Northeast Missouri has a high prevalence of heart disease and obesity/overweight among its adult population, sadly, for those adults it will be very difficult for most of them to improve their overall health and their heart health in particular. There are many risk factors for heart disease such as being overweight, poor diet and exercise, diabetes, and high blood pressure. According to MICA and OSEDA data Missouri has a 63% rate of overweight/obese adults in its population which has led to heart disease and heart related illnesses to surpass cancer as the number one cause of death and hospitalization in Missouri. If you couple that with the 25% self-reported physical inactivity numbers, the 20% high blood pressure numbers, and the 74% of adults who claim they don’t get enough fruits or vegetables a day the problem is rapidly becoming clear. These numbers are considered under reported and the actual numbers may be much higher. If Missouri is going to lower its prevalence of heart disease and overweight adults then the education and training must start at a very young age in order to create adults with a lifelong commitment to fitness and health. These children don’t have to all grow up to be athletes, they just need to be athletically inclined enough that they stay in shape throughout their lives and lower their chances of getting heart disease and pass on those habits to their children. Healthy children with good eating and exercise habits grow up to become healthy adults who have less health issues and who are more productive members of society that miss less days of work and visit the hospital less than those who are unhealthy. 

What NEMO RAAWKS is trying to accomplish is to take young children between the ages of three to ten and instruct them in correct nutrition, fitness, and how to integrate those two into their daily lives. It’s important to start training the children young so that the lessons can sink in and they can start practicing these lessons on a daily basis so it becomes a habit they will keep throughout their lives. NEMO RAAWKS is committed to doing this by introducing better nutritional education in schools and also revamping physical education in school and at home to improve the students overall fitness and health. The fitness model will consist of developing correct fundamental movement techniques that the students can then build off of throughout their lives. Techniques such as correct walking and running form, crawling, lifting, carrying, throwing, catching, balancing, jumping, climbing, and swimming can all be built upon in a fun and engaging way. As adults we think that all of these are very simple tasks to do, and they are, but only because we’ve been doing them all our lives and have developed the muscle memory to do them easily. However, many children and adults have learned incorrectly how to execute these movements and can be injured as a result. The model that these students will be learning from is called MovNat, which is all about teaching fundamental movement techniques.

You can click on this link to see a sample of what MovNat teaches:
MovNat


Imagine if children learned these movements in school and how much more coordinated and fit they would be as adults.


References

(2013, September 16). In Medline Plus. Retrieved September 17, 2013, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/heartdiseasesprevention.html

(2011, January 12). In Mayo Clinic. Retrieved September 17, 2013, from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease-prevention/WO00041

La Opción Saludable (The Healthy Choice)-Julie Swanger

La Opción Saludable

Peru is a country struggling with nutrition due to current situations and past events.  In the past crops were modified to grow in Peru's culture that are still being harvested today, but in a very limited category, all grains.  In present day a majority of Peru is uneducated, leaving families very clueless about what they should be eating each and every day.  La Opción Saludable (The Healthy Choice) is a campaign that has been launched to help review these demographical issues and provide the help and support needed to decrease the rates of malnutrition in Peru

Peru is a land with immense beauty, various demographic locations, rich traditions, and low nutritional resources.  Due to the ranging landscape in Peru it makes it very difficult for agricultural variation and growth.  Centuries ago, when the Incas ruled all of Peru they lived mainly in the Andes Mountain region of Peru, although difficult it was the only terrain in Peru that allowed for agriculture and being in the mountains provided them secrecy and protection from invasion, they were able to spot the enemy long before the enemy could see them.  In order to farm on the cliffs of the mountains the Incan's built terraces that ran down the sides of their mountain residences (Natural).  This caused several problems because they were trying to grow crops at several different altitudes and temperatures.  They developed the structure of Moray which is located in a mountainous valley and continues 100 feet into the earth in concave terraces of circles.  Each terrace represented a different climate temperate layer.  Here is where the Ancient Incan's created and mixed over 3,000 types of potatoes and 150 breeds of corn that would flourish in all different altitudes surrounding the Andes Mountains (Koster). 

Moray agricultural zone- Peru

Although at the time producing these agricultural staples of rice, potatoes, and corn was sufficient, modern day diets in Peru are now very restricted.  Still to this day, in the mountains of Peru, these staples are grown in abundance.  Sugar cane also flourishes in Peru, making it a top staple as well (FAOSTAT).  These are the most commonly seen products in the streets and markets of Peru, causing a large nutritional unbalance, which aids the next nutritional issue of education.

Chart from FAOSTAT

Education is not very structured in Peru, although it is free for children 7-16 years of age it is not required, in fact only 10.1% of the population in Peru is literate (Peru Education).  Instead of sending their kids to school parents use them to help do other tasks.  This results in a large amount of uneducated people in several topics, including nutrition.  When working with mothers in Peru I learned that 9 out of 10 mothers did not know what the five food groups were and had no idea that these items should be eaten everyday.  The most common misperceptions were that eggs were dairy products, rice was a protein, and that fruit was treated like a dessert in the United States, a treat for once a week or so. Because things like fruit, weren't as inexpensive or abundant at the markets they just assumed that they weren't as important to consume and instead focused on potatoes and rice, because as stated earlier they are the most available.  It is very important to educate these women that there are five food groups to eat everyday, and that grains, which they consume the most, aren't necessarily meant to be consumed the most.  In order to educate the women about nutrition a campaign was launched while I was in Peru that is being continued while in the states.  The five food groups were diagrammed on a plate drawn onto a large poster, after explaining the food groups to the women they would then receive food cards of typical Peruvian cuisine and had to place them in their proper locations.  This is to help educate the women about how to serve a well rounded meal to their family, and more materials are being created.

Peru has several nutritional issues, mainly due to their lack of education and limited resources but through La Opción Saludablbe (The Healthy Choice) campaign women and families in Peru will become more educated and able to support themselves.

References

Koster, J. (n.d.). Moray: First Agricultural Experiment Station?. Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association . Retrieved September 16, 2013, from http://www.mofga.org/Publications/MaineOrganicFarmerGardener/Spring2012/Moray/tabid/2137/Default.aspx

Peru. (n.d.). FASOSTAT. Retrieved September 16, 2013, from faostat3.fao.org/faostat-gateway/go/to/home/E

Peru Education , Education in Peru. (n.d.).Maps of the World. Retrieved September 18, 2013, from http://www.mapsofworld.com/peru/education/

Childhood Obesity Prevention

Obesity is a major health issue in the US at present. The number of overweight and obese individuals is at all-time high and the problem is increasing day by day. Millions of dollars are spent every year to combat the illnesses and complications caused by obesity. It is a risk factor pertaining to chronic illnesses, such as cardiovascular ailments, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and certain types of cancers.

The Obesity issue is striding towards becoming an epidemic and the US is struggling to combat its growth. It now affects 35.7% of adults and 17% of all children and adolescents aged 2 - 19 in the country ("overweight and obesity," 2013). The obesity trend is worse among children than any other age group. Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled ("overweight and obesity," 2013). The rate is highest among non-Hispanic, black girls followed by boys of Mexican-American ethnicity (Ogden & Carroll, 2010). Children who are overweight and obese tend to become obese adults, as they get older. They are at a much higher risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, poor self-esteem, emotional and psychological problems, in addition to above mentioned health problems.

Childhood obesity is being driven by children consuming too many calories than appropriate amount and not getting enough physical activity. Numerous factors can influence upon pushing this problem to its current state. These include

• People accepting the notion of consumption of less than healthy foods as the norm
• Exposure to cheap fast foods
• Lack of time to prepare healthy meals at home/busy parents
• Limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables
• More time spent watching television and playing video games
• Lack of access to safe play areas and parks
• Lack of physical activity at school.

Exposure to some or all of these factors can hinder upon the wellbeing of children and lead them towards living unhealthy lives.

The solution to this issue can be considered simple yet difficult to achieve. Individuals who influence the lives of the children such as parents, teachers, and schools should come together to direct the children towards healthier choices. Parents should provide fresh fruits and vegetables whenever they can, prepare healthier meals at home, limit their intake of processed foods and foods high in sugar and fat. They can also encourage their children to limit TV/video game usage, play or do physical activities outside every day. Similarly, schools can provide healthy food options at the cafeteria or vending machines and increase outdoor activities and recess time. Teachers can educate their students about various nutrition topics; encourage students to make healthier food choices. Communities can provide incentives to supermarkets to sell healthier foods, encourage them to include local produce at their store, increase access to free drinking water as well as limit sale of sugary drinks. They can also build and maintain parks and playgrounds and conduct fitness/wellness events in the community to promote healthier living.

It is a proven fact that healthy behavior in terms of one’s diet and lifestyle can be the blueprint for leading healthier lives. It is especially true for children, whose habits can be molded towards a healthier lifestyle. It is our responsibility to lead the children towards choosing the appropriate path. They should be given the proper knowledge and guidance in regards to making important decisions regarding this problem. Therefore, we are obliged to teach them healthier habits such as importance of physical activity and proper nutrition to achieve bright and better future, away from the perilous effects of obesity.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013, January 11). Overweight and obesity. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/facts.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013, January 11). Overweight and obesity. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html

Ogden, C., & Carroll, M. (2010, 06 04). Publications and information products. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_07_08/obesity_child_07_08.htm

Mental Health: a Burden

            When thinking about overall health, things like nutrition, exercise, and weight come to mind. People often associate these things with health, but they are not the only factors that deem a person health or unhealthy. Mental health is something that people forget about, but is still an important influence on a person’s general health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community” (CDC, 2011). Unstable mental health symptoms such as changed in mood or thinking can attribute to mental illnesses and mental disorders. The most common form of mental illness in the United States is depression.  (CDC, 2011). There are many other burdens associated with poor mental health.

Poor mental health status isn’t mutually exclusive with mental illness; it can also cause other health problems down the road. According to the CDC:

Evidence has shown that mental disorders, especially depressive disorders, are strongly related to the occurrence, successful treatment, and course of many chronic diseases including diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and obesity and many risk behaviors for chronic disease; such as, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive drinking, and insufficient sleep (CDC, 2011).

Because of these effects and the growing rates of mental health problems, the total death rates and years of potential life lost may possibly increase as well. These high death rates have put mental health on the Healthy People 2020 map. Since the numbers keep increasing for mental illness and related factors, Healthy People 2020 has created certain objectives to decrease the amount of deaths associated with mental illnesses and disorders. The severity of the mental illness can have debilitating effects. According to the Health People 2020 website, “an estimated 13 million American adults (approximately 1 in 17) have a seriously debilitating mental illness” (Healthy People 2020, 2013). Since depression is one of the most common debilitating mental disorders, Healthy People 2020 has made it one of the top priorities to fix.

Other objectives in Healthy People 2020 include suicide prevention and increasing treatment. There is a huge stigma associated with mental health illnesses. People may be less likely to seek treatment because they are ashamed of their illness and what others may think. This stigma is an enormous problem because if people are afraid to seek help, they may never get better, which can be a danger to themselves and others. There are screenings different treatment options for those who do seek help. If we want to decrease the amount of people burdened by mental health, we need to work on spreading the word and educating people on the topic. Education plays an important role in changing stigmas and negative connotations.

Stress can be one of the main contributors to poor mental health: it is a daily part of our lives. Athletes, college students, or adults are all susceptible to stress. Things like work, lack of a job, homework, money problems, and even poor sleeping habits contribute to daily stress. A main way to decrease stress is to take breaks from daily life and do something fun or relax. It has been claimed that laughter is the best medicine––this may not be entirely true, but it can help boost morale and promote better moods and attitudes.  Get out there and do something fun, laugh a little and enjoy time with people you love.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, July 11). Stigma of mental health. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/data_stats/mental-illness.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, September 1). Fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealthsurveillance/fact_sheet.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, July 1). Well-being. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/data_stats/well-being.htm

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011, July 1). Basics. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/basics.htm

Healthy People 2020. (2013 April 10). Mental health and mental disorders. Retrieved from http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicId=28

Prenatal Vitamins by Christina Rejko

One of the most important aspects of prenatal care is taking prenatal vitamins.  Prenatal vitamins boost the amount of nutrients a mother receives throughout her daily food consumption and ensures that the baby will receive the nutrients he or she needs to grow and develop.  However, it is important to note that prenatal vitamins are not intended to take the place of eating healthy, but rather compliment it.  Ideally, women should start taking prenatal vitamins before they even become pregnant.  Health care providers recommend that a women should continue taking the vitamins even after the baby is born, especially if the mother is breast feeding.  

The four most important minerals in prenatal vitamins include folic acid, iron, calcium and vitamin D. Having enough folic acid is crucial in the baby's developing neural tube.  If there is a deficiency, then the spinal cord does not close all the way, creating birth defects such as Spina Bifida.  Choline, another mineral that is not contained in prenatal vitamins, also helps to prevent neural tube defects.  Iron is important in making red blood cells and supplying oxygen to cells for energy and growth.  It also is responsible for building bones, cartilage and other connective tissue.  Calcium and Vitamin D also contribute to growing bones, teeth, nerves, a strong heart, and muscles.  (See below for a complete chart of all the nutrients that a baby needs throughout the pregnancy--from babycenter.com.)  Without these vitamins a developing baby would not have the appropriate nutrients it needs to develop and morbidity or mortality could occur during the pregnancy or after birth.  

Women should talk with their health care provider before starting prenatal vitamins to verify that the brand meets the suggested recommendations.  If a mother is a vegetarian or has medical conditions, such as diabetes or anemia, or has previously delivered a low-birthweight or baby with a neural defect, her doctor might recommend additional supplements.   

However, if a woman's doctor does not specifically recommend to take extra supplements, it is not advised.  Although it seems logical that taking extra supplements would improve the baby's health even more, it actually has the opposite effect and can harm the baby.   Therefore, taking megadoses of any vitamin or mineral without medical supervision is not recommended.  

Chart of Nutrients Needed throughout Pregnancy to help the Baby Develop and Grow 

Nutrient	Daily amount	Do you need a supplement?*	Benefit to your baby	Food source
Calcium	1,000 mg	Maybe	Grows strong bones and teeth, healthy nerves, heart, and muscles; develops heart rhythm and blood clotting.	8 oz. skim milk: 301 mg, 8 oz. calcium-fortified orange juice: 300 mg, 1 oz. mozzarella cheese: 222 mg, 2 corn tortillas: 92 mg
Choline	450 mg	Maybe	Helps brain cells develop properly; helps prevent neural tube defects.	1 hard-boiled egg: 113 mg, 3 oz. pork: 88 mg, 3 oz. cod: 71 mg
Chromium	30 mcg	No	Promotes the building of protein in your baby's growing tissues; regulates blood sugar levels.	1 tbsp. peanut butter: 41 mcg, 3 oz. broiled skinless chicken: 22 mcg, 1 apple: 15 mcg
Copper	1 mg	No	Helps form heart, skeletal, and nervous systems, arteries, and blood vessels	3 oz. canned crab meat: 1.0 mg, 1 oz. raw cashews: 0.6 mg, 1/2 cup cooked kidney beans: 0.2 mg
Folic Acid	at least 600 mcg during pregnancy	Yes	Helps prevent neural tube defects; may reduce risk of other birth defects; critical for DNA production (building block of cells).	1/2 cup lentils: 179 mcg, 1/2 cup fortified cereal: 133 mcg, 4 steamed or boiled asparagus spears: 81 mcg
Iodine	220 mcg	No	Regulates metabolism; helps nervous system develop.	3 oz. cod: 99 mcg, 1 cup low-fat yogurt: 87 mcg, 1 tbsp wakame (sea vegetable): 82 mcg, 1/4 tsp iodized salt: 67 to 100 mcg, 1 baked potato with skin: 60 mcg
Iron	27 mg (almost double the amount for women who aren't pregnant)	Yes	Makes red blood cells; supplies oxygen to cells for energy and growth; builds bones, cartilage, and other connective tissue.	1 cup iron-fortified cereal: 24 mg, 1/2 cup cooked lentils: 3.3 mg, 1/2 cup boiled spinach: 3.2 mg, 3 oz. beef tenderloin: 3 mg
Magnesium	350 mg	Maybe	Helps build strong bones and teeth; regulates insulin and blood sugar levels; builds and repairs tissue.	1 oz. dried pumpkin seeds: 152 mg, 3 oz. halibut: 90 mg, 1 cup spinach pasta: 87 mg
Manganese	2 mg	No	Helps form bones and cartilage; helps protect cells from damage; activates enzymes that help metabolize protein, fat, and carbohydrates.	1 cup cooked brown rice: 1.8 mg, 1 cup cooked oatmeal: 1.3 mg, 1/2 cup pineapple chunks: 0.9 mg
Pantothenic Acid	6 mg	No	Essential for production of hormones and cholesterol and for the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.	1/2 avocado: 1.1 mg; 1 cup nonfat milk: 1.0 mg; 1 hard-boiled egg: 0.7 mg
Phosphorus	700 mg	No	Builds strong bones; develops blood clotting, kidney function, and normal heart rhythm.	3 oz. canned salmon (with bones): 251 mg, 1 cup nonfat milk: 247 mg, 1/2 cup cooked black beans: 241 mg, 3 oz. lean beef patty: 189 mg
Potassium	4,700 mg	No	Helps maintain fluid and electrolyte balance; aids muscle contractions, energy metabolism, and nerve function.	1 baked potato: 844 mg, 8 oz. prune juice: 706 mg, 1/2 cup cooked lima beans: 484 mg, 1/4 cup dried[SB1] apricots: 378 mg
Riboflavin	1.4 mg	No	Promotes growth, good vision, and healthy skin; essential for baby's bone, muscle, and nerve development.	1 cup nonfat yogurt: 0.5 mg, 3 oz. skinless duck: 0.4 mg, 1/2 cup cooked mushrooms: 0.2 mg, 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese: 0.2 mg
Thiamine	1.4 mg	No	Converts carbohydrates into energy; essential for brain development; aids heart and nervous system growth.	1/2 cup oats: 0.6 mg, 3 oz. pork tenderloin: 0.8 mg, 1 cup enriched spinach noodles: 0.4 mg, 1/2 cup cooked split peas: 0.2 mg
Vitamin A	770 mcg RAE (retinol activity equivalents) OR 2,565 IU (international units)	No	Important for cell growth, eye development, healthy skin and mucous membranes, infection resistance, bone growth, and fat metabolism.	1 baked sweet potato: 1,096 mcg RAE, 1/2 cup boiled spinach: 573 mcg RAE; 1 raw carrot: 509 mcg RAE
Vitamin B6	1.9 mg	No	Aids metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates; helps form new red blood cells and develop the brain and nervous system.	1 banana: 0.7 mg, 1 baked potato: 0.7 mg, 1/2 cup canned chickpeas: 0.6 mg, 3 oz. chicken breast: 0.5 mg
Vitamin C	85 mg	No	Essential for tissue repair and the production of collagen (a component of cartilage, tendons, bones, and skin).	8 oz. orange juice: 124 mg, 1/2 cup boiled broccoli: 51 mg, 1/2 cup strawberries: 49 mg, 1/2 cup cantaloupe: 29 mg
Vitamin D	5 mcg (200 IU) or more	Yes	Helps build bones and teeth.	3 oz. salmon: 8 mcg; 1 cup milk: 2 mcg
Zinc	11 mg	Maybe	Aids cell growth;  crucial for DNA production.	3 oz. Alaskan king crab: 6.5 mg, 1/2 cup firm tofu: 2 mg; 1 cup fruit-flavored yogurt: 1.8 mg

References: 

BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board (2013). Seven principles of eating well during pregnancy. Retrieved from http://www.babycenter.com/pregnancy-eating-well?page=1.