What is WIC?

What is WIC?

 

WIC is a government funded program that supports pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to the age of 5 by providing nutrition education, supplementary foods and community referrals. WIC has been around since 1974 and has proven to help reduce nutrition disparities among lower income families.

If you or someone you know would benefit from WIC services please contact the Oneida County WIC office at (715) 369-6109.

Please visit our website for more information: http://www.co.oneida.wi.gov/section.asp?linkid=1853&locid=136

A Healthy Twist on Holiday Traditions

Tired of Christmas cookies and cream cheese based appetizers at holiday parties and gatherings? Bring this appetizer to your next party or surprise your family with a delicious snack! Not only does it stay true to the holiday colors (red and green) it is tasty and full of nutrients. For the health savy, make sure the slices of French bread are thin, add less cheese and pile on the tomato salad mixture. Add 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar to your tomato salad mixture for an extra zing!

Fresh Tomato and Basil Bruschetta

Ingredients:

1 loaf crusty Italian bread, sliced 3/4-inch thick (about 16 pieces)

2 Tbsp olive oil

2 cups fresh, chopped tomatoes*

2 Tbsp fresh, chopped basil

4 cloves of garlic, chopped very fine

2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar (optional)

1/2 tsp salt

1 oz. shaved mozzerella cheese

Preparation:

1. Combine the tomatoes, basil, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.

2. Set the oven to the broil setting.

3. Place the bread slices in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Using a basting brush, brush a small amount of the olive oil on each slice. Place the bread in the oven and broil for about 1 minute, or until the bread becomes lightly toasted.

4. Remove the bread from the oven, and spoon about 2 tablespoons of the tomato mixture on each slice. Top each with a couple shaves of mozzarella. Broil for another 30 seconds. Watch the bruschetta carefully during this time to make sure it does not burn.

* If time is an issue, substitute organic, diced tomatoes (drained).

Serves 16 -  Calories per serving  68

Do I have a food borne illness?

• What are the symptoms of a food borne illness: Symptoms of a food borne illness are typically nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, and sore throat with a fever.      
• How long after eating will symptoms start: Typically, symptoms start between 2 and 12 hours.
• How long can a food borne illness persist: A severe infection can persist for two weeks, but typically, most food borne illnesses clear up in two days.
• What is the difference between a food borne illness, the “24-hour flu”, and “the flu”: Intestinal illnesses commonly referred to as “stomach flu” or the “24-hour flu” are actually caused by foodborne pathogens (bacteria, viruses and parasites) resulting in a foodborne illness. Influenza or “the flu” is primarily an illness of the respiratory system caused by influenza viruses that are spread from person-to-person through coughing or sneezing. If diarrheal symptoms do not occur with respiratory symptoms, a person may actually have a foodborne illness.
• Have I ever had a food borne illness: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates over 76 million cases of food borne illness occur each year in the U.S. Most people do not go through their lives without having a food borne illness. Since symptoms can be subtle, sometimes people are not aware a food borne illness exists, which is why it is under-reported. Most people get more than one food borne illness per year.  
• If symptoms persist sometimes for only a day, why should I be concerned: During vomiting, bacteria can spread via mist. Unclean hands after a diarrheal event can spread bacteria. Therefore, proper hygiene should be used when handling food, both in restaurants and at home.

 

For more food safety information, please visit: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/fact_sheets/Foodborne_Illness_What_Consumers_Need_to_Know/index.asp

Holiday Stress and Depression

The holiday season can be a time full of joy, cheer, parties and family gatherings. But for many people, it is a time of self-evaluation, loneliness, reflection on past failures and anxiety about an uncertain future.

What Causes Holiday Blues?

Many factors can cause the “holiday blues”: stress, fatigue, unrealistic expectations, over-commercialization, financial constraints, and the inability to be with one’s family and friends. The demands of shopping, parties, family reunions and house guests also contribute to feelings of tension. People may also develop other stress responses such as headaches, excessive drinking, over-eating and difficulty sleeping. Even more people experience post-holiday let down after January 1. This can result from disappointments during the preceding months compounded by the excess fatigue and stress.

Coping with Stress & Depression During the Holidays

• Keep expectations for the holiday season manageable. Try to set realistic goals for yourself. Pace yourself. Organize your time. Make a list and prioritize the important activities.
• Be realistic about what you can and cannot do. Don’t put the entire focus on just one day (i.e., Thanksgiving Day). Remember that it’s a season of holiday sentiment, and activities can be spread out to lessen stress and increase enjoyment.
• Remember the holiday season does not banish reasons for feeling sad or lonely; there is room for these feelings to be present, even if the person chooses not to express them.
• Leave “yesteryear” in the past and look toward the future. Life brings changes. Each season is different and can be enjoyed in its own way. Don’t set yourself up in comparing today with the “good ol’ days.”
• Do something for someone else. Try volunteering some of your time to help others.
• Enjoy activities that are free, such as taking a drive to look at holiday decorations, going window shopping or making a snowperson with children.
• Be aware that excessive drinking will only increase your feelings of depression.
• Try something new. Celebrate the holidays in a new way.
• Spend time with supportive and caring people. Reach out and make new friends, or contact someone you haven’t heard from in a while.
• Save time for yourself! Recharge your batteries! Let others share in the responsibility of planning activities.

Can Environment Be a Factor?

Studies show that some people suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), which results from being exposed to fewer hours of sunlight as the days grow shorter during the winter months. Phototherapy, a treatment involving a few hours of exposure to intense light, is shown to be effective in relieving depressive symptoms in patients with SAD.

Other studies on the benefits of phototherapy found that exposure to early morning sunlight can be effective in relieving seasonal depression. Recent findings, however, suggest that patients respond equally well to phototherapy when it is scheduled in the early afternoon. This has practical applications for antidepressant treatment because it allows the use of phototherapy in the workplace as well as the home.

For more information visit http://www.nmha.org/index.cfm?objectid=c7df954d-1372-4d20-c80ed0a7ab69d250

World Aids Day-Light For Rights

            World AIDS Day is celebrated on December 1 each year around the world.  It has become one of the most recognized international health days and a key opportunity to raise awareness, commemorate those who have passed on, and celebrate victories such as increased access to treatment and prevention services.

            UNAIDS took the lead on World AIDS Day campaigning from its creation until 2004.  From 2004 onwards the World AIDS Campaign’s Global Steering Committee began selecting a theme for World AIDS Day in consultation with civil society, organizations and government agencies involved in the AIDS response. 

            The theme for 2010 Worlds AIDS Day is “Light for Rights.”

            The Light for Rights campaign strives to underscore this year’s focus on HIV and human rights by encouraging people in cities around the world to dim the lights on key landmarks to remember the devastating affect AIDS has had on us all, and to turn the lights back on to illuminate the fundamental human rights we all share but that are often denied people living with HIV.

            Go to http://lightforrights.org/events.php  to see a listing of events in the US.

A GLOBAL SNAPSHOT OF AIDS FACTS

Ø      33 million people now live with HIV/AIDS. Two million are under age 15.

Ø      Everyday 7,397 people contract HIV-308 every hour.

Ø      In 2008, 2.0 million people died from AIDS.

Ø      More than 2/3 of all people living HIV, 22 million, live in sub-Saharan Africa-including 90% of the world’s HIV-positive children.

Ø      Globally, men who have sex with men are 19 times more likely to be infected with HIV than the general population.

Ø      Worldwide, women make up half of all people living with HIV.

US AIDS FACTS

Ø    Approximately 1.1 million people in the US are living with HIV/AIDS.

Ø    An estimated 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the US in 2006.

Ø    African Americans accounted for 46% of new HIV infections diagnosed in 2006, although they comprise only 12% of the population.

Ø    Men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for 53% of all HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed in 2006. A third of these MSM were younger than 30 years old.

Ø    The number of women living with HIV in the US has tripled in the last two decades; by 2005, 26% of people living with HIV were women.

Sources: UNAIDS, AIDS Epidemic Update, 2009; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; amfAR, MSM, HIV, and the Road to Universal Access-How Far Have we Come? August 2008.

Learn more about WORLD AIDS Day and the impact that HIV/AIDS has had on our world by going to http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/    

TURKEY SAFETY TIPS FOR THE HOLIDAYS

• Thawing—Thaw frozen turkeys in the refrigerator, if possible. A 20-pound turkey should thaw in 4-5 days. Rapid thawing of turkeys may be done by submerging the wrapped turkey in cold water that is changed every 30 minutes until the turkey is thawed. Allow 30 minutes per pound thawing time. Cook the turkey immediately after it is thawed.

• Preparation—Stuffing should be moist, not dry, since heat kills bacteria more easily in a moist environment. Stuff the turkey loosely – about ¾ cup stuffing per pound. Allow more time to cook a stuffed turkey than an unstuffed turkey. A stuffed turkey will take about 20 to 25 minutes more per pound to cook than an unstuffed turkey.

• Cooking—The turkey is cooked when all parts of the bird are at least 165°F. Follow cooking instructions on the turkey label. A stuffed, 20-pound turkey will take a little less than 5 hours to cook in a conventational oven at 325°F. Use a meat thermometer to determine when the turkey is thoroughly cooked. Insert the thermometer into the innermost part of the thigh, wing and the thickest part of the breast. The center of the stuffing in the turkey cavity must also reach a minimum of 165°F. Let the turkey stand 20 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving the turkey

• Leftovers—To rapidly cool leftovers, cut the turkey into small pieces and refrigerate stuffing in separate containers. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking. Food that is not frozen should be consumed or discarded within seven days.

For more food safety information, please visit: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Fact_Sheets/Poultry_Preparation_Fact_Sheets/index

Or call:   The FDA Food Information Line   1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366)

Ideas on How to Make Holiday Recipies More Healthy

Baked goods are symbolic of happy times with friends and family, especially around the Holidays.  Making substitutions to some of your favorite recipes will not only make your baked good a show stopper and the rave of the party, but also be friendly to the waist line. Try some of these substitutions to make even the sweetest treat, packed full of nutrients:

Whole Wheat Flour: First step with whole wheat flour is to get it in your cupboard - from there the possibilities are endless. Start with substituting 1/3 or a ½ of the white flour that the recipe calls for with whole wheat flour. As you get used to the taste and texture continue to increase the ratio of whole wheat flour to white flour.

Applesauce: Use as an equal substitution for fat in a recipe. For example, if the recipe calls for 1 cup of vegetable oil, add 1 cup of applesauce instead. Purchase ‘no sugar added’ applesauce, or make your own applesauce without any added sugar. Fruit has enough natural sweetness and does not need anything added to it (except for maybe some cinnamon and nutmeg).

Pumpkin: Use pumpkin as a substitute for fat, much like you would use applesauce.  In most recipes there will be a ‘pumpkin’ taste so make sure you think about how the tastes will meld before substituting it for the fat in a recipe. See below for an easy recipe to try to start using pumpkin with baking.

Black Beans…yes, I said black beans! Black beans can be substituted for either the fat or the flour in a recipe. Google ‘black bean brownies’ to get ideas for how you can incorporate beans into some of your favorite recipes. Black beans not only are a great source of protein but also include many beneficial nutrients like folic acid, magnesium, phosphorus and iron.

Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

Allrecipes.com

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 12 cup muffin pan or line with paper liners.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the cake mix, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves until smooth. Spoon equal amounts of batter into the prepared muffin cups.
3. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean.

Amount Per Serving 

Calories: 199 | Total Fat: 5.2g | Cholesterol: < 1mg | Total Carbs: 36.8 g | Fiber 1.6 g

Powered by ESHA Nutrient Database

Brenda Nurmela, RD, CD-Dietician, Oneida County Health Department

Family Traditions for Healthy Holidays

It’s important to make a conscious decision to be more active and eat healthier over the holidays.  This is something that many people have trouble doing, but by making increased physical activity part of a holiday tradition, it can actually become something that the whole family looks forward to. Oneida County Public Health has looked at a variety of ways to assist people in becoming more active, and the holidays actually offer all kinds of creative and fun outlets for family physical activity.

• Dance to your favorite holiday music. 
• Encourage a friendly game of football, horseshoes, billiards, ping pong, or other sports for those who wish to go outside.
• Incorporate active ice breakers to learn more about family members.
• Suggest a walk after the “Holiday Dinner” no matter what the weather.
• Involve family members in actively volunteering in a service project to help others.  
• If shopping is part of the upcoming holiday season, park the car “a short hike” from the mall entrance.

The Center for Disease Control recommends a guideline of 150 minutes per week of moderate activity.  It can become a game to play to see how many different things families can do (at a moderate intensity level) that last at least 10 minutes that count towards the 150 minute guideline. 

Family traditions play a crucial role in the healthy or unhealthy choices a family makes about eating and physical activity, and with the holidays just around the corner, why not choose to start some healthy traditions this year.  Oneida County Public Health has a great, free resource called Get Moving Oneida County (http://www.co.oneida.wi.gov/docview.asp?docid=4293&locid=136 ), a detailed list of free or low cost physical activity opportunities in Oneida County.         

These healthy holiday tips work year round, but trying them out around the holidays may help jumpstart some new family traditions.     All the tips focus on small, simple things, that when combined, can have a positive effect on your family’s health and well-being. What are you doing to help create healthy family traditions?

New Report Shows Smoking Boosts Alzheimer’s Risk

 

Smoking during middle age more than doubles the odds for developing Alzheimer’s, according to a new study from Oakland-based Kaiser Permanente on Monday.

The study examined the medical records of over 20,000 men and women from 1994 to 2008.  The results found that those who smoked two or more packs a day increased their risk of developing Alzheimer’s by 157%, and raised their risk of developing vascular dementia (the second most comment form of dementia after Alzheimer’s) by 172%.  The findings were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

“Sadly, we can now add Alzheimer’s to the already extensive list of tobacco’s harmful effects,” said Niki Kostrova, Oneida County Tobacco Control Coordinator.  “This study further demonstrates how important it is to prevent young people from smoking and help current smokers quit.  The state must continue to fund these programs to decrease tobacco’s deadly burden on Wisconsin.”

79 people die from smoking annually in Oneida County, according to the 2010 Burden of Tobacco in Wisconsin report.  Smoking is the also the number one cause of preventable disease and costs the state $4.5 billion in health care costs and lost productivity.

Smokers who want to quit should talk to their doctor or call the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT NOW.

Flu Season

Flu Season is upon us!  It is time to get your flu shot now.  The Oneida County Health Department is offering flu shots Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 4:00.  No appointments are necessary.  Cost for the flu shot is $25.  We bill Medicare, Medicaid, and BadgerCare.  Trust Public Health to protect you and your family this flu season!

What is influenza (also called flu)?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.

Symptoms of flu

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• fever* or feeling feverish/chills
• cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle or body aches
• headaches
• fatigue (very tired)
• Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

How flu spreads

Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose.

Period of contagiousness

You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. Some people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems, might be able to infect others for an even longer time.

How serious is the flu?

Flu is unpredictable and how severe it is can vary widely from one season to the next depending on many things, including:

• what flu viruses are spreading,
• how much flu vaccine is available
• when vaccine is available
• how many people get vaccinated, and
• how well the flu vaccine is matched to flu viruses that are causing illness.

Certain people are at greater risk for serious complications if they get the flu. This includes older people, young children, pregnant women and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease).
Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Over a period of 30 years, between 1976 and 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.
During 2009-2010, a new and very different flu virus (called 2009 H1N1) spread worldwide causing the first flu pandemic in more than 40 years. It is estimated that the 2009 H1N1 pandemic resulted in more than 12,000 flu-related deaths in the U.S. In contrast to seasonal flu, nearly 90 percent of the deaths occurred among people younger than 65 years of age.

Complications of flu

Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

Preventing seasonal flu: Get vaccinated

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season. There are two types of flu vaccines:

• The "flu shot"–an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle. The seasonal flu shot is approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, including healthy people, people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women.
• The nasal–spray flu vaccine –a vaccine made with live, weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes called LAIV for "Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine"). LAIV is approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three influenza viruses that research suggests will be most common. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against 2009 H1N1, and two other influenza viruses (an H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus).

When to get vaccinated against seasonal flu

Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September, or as soon as vaccine is available, and continue throughout the flu season which can last as late as May. This is because the timing and duration of flu seasons vary. While flu season can begin early as October, most of the time seasonal flu activity peaks in January or later.

Who should get vaccinated?

On February 24, 2010 vaccine experts voted that everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine each year starting with the 2010-2011 influenza season. CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for "universal" flu vaccination in the U.S. to expand protection against the flu to more people. While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that certain people get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications.

Who is at high risk for developing flu-related complications?

• Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
• Adults 65 years of age and older
• Pregnant women
• Also, last flu season, American Indians and Alaskan Natives seemed to be at higher risk of flu complications
• People who have medical conditions including:
  • Asthma (even if it’s controlled or mild)
  • Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury]
  • Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
  • Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
  • Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
  • Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
  • Kidney disorders
  • Liver disorders
  • Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
  • Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
  • People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
  • People who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index [BMI] of 40 or greater)

Who else should get vaccinated?

Other people for whom vaccination is especially important are:

• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
• Health care workers
• Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
• Household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 5 years of age with particular emphasis on vaccinating contacts of children younger than 6 months of age (children younger than 6 months are at highest risk of flu-related complications but are too young to get vaccinated)

Use of the nasal spray seasonal flu vaccine

Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. Even people who live with or care for those in a high risk group (including health care workers) can get the nasal-spray flu vaccine as long as they are healthy themselves and are not pregnant. The one exception is health care workers who care for people with severely weakened immune systems who require a protected hospital environment; these people should get the inactivated flu vaccine (flu shot).