CALENDAR OF EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stop by and visit the health resource library.

Questions? Stop by the

Health & Wellness Department. We are here to help.

Just for the Guys . . .

The Perfect StyleDon’t be afraid to switch up your look to refl ect the easy-going nature of summer. One of the easiest ways is to change your hair cut. Many guys are nervous to try something new, but changing up your look is simple and can help to boost your confi dence. Most men go right for the clippers and buzz it all off when the weather gets hot.

Not ready to take it all off? Another great option is to go for a style with shorter sides but keep the length up top. It is easy to maintain and will grow out nicely too. Complete the transformation with new clothes to complement your new look.

In a lifetime, it is said that men, on aver-age, only have 3 hairstyles. Women, on the other hand, have more than 100 different styles.

Source: www.wikihow.com

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August 2013

Sugar, by defi nition, is a generalized name for a class of chemically-related sweet-fl avored substances, most of which are used as food. The table or granulated sugar most commonly used is sucrose.

Basic facts about sugar

• Although sugar gives us energy, it packs a lot of punch into a tiny bit. In every gram of sugar, there are 4 calories which means that in every teaspoon of sugar there are 20 calories.

• When your body has all of the energy that it needs from sugar, it converts the excess into fat and stores it. That’s one of the reasons why people gain weight.

• Although protein, carbohydrates and fat also give us energy, our bodies take longer to digest these. Sugar, on the other hand, gives us immediate energy.

• While sugar gives you a lot of energy quickly, it can also cause you to “crash” when the energy has disappeared. For

that reason, you sometimes need more sugar in order to keep your energy level up.

• The natural sugar content in fruit releases energy more slowly than the artifi cial sugar sweeteners that can be found in sugary drinks and cereals.

• Since sugar doesn’t provide anything but energy, it is often referred to as having “empty calories.” It doesn’t contain any vitamins or minerals that your body actually needs.

• Sugar is able to act like a natural preservative which can keep some foods from molding or going bad quickly. Other natural preservatives include salt and vinegar.

• Bacteria in your mouth can feed on sugar and then produce chemicals that can dissolve the white coating. When that happens, cavities form.

Learn more about sugar and sugar alternatives in the Health & Wellness Department.

Sugar Facts

Source: sugarfacts.org

empty calories . . .

Guacamole Ingredients

3 ripe avocados that are soft to the touch but not bruised or spongy

2 cloves of garlic, fi nely chopped to a paste

1/2 jalapeño, fi nely diced

1 ripe lime, juiced

Salt

Directions Cut avocados in half and remove the seed. Scoop out the avocado into a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and mash up with a fork until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Re-season to taste with salt.

Powerhouse Chef Recipe Corner

Healthy weight—it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle! When it comes to weight loss, there’s no lack of fad diets promising fast results. But such diets limit your nutritional intake, can be unhealthy, and tend to fail in the long run. The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn’t about short-term dietary changes. It’s about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating, regular physical activity, and balancing the number of calories you consume with the number of calories your body uses. Staying in control of your weight contributes to good health now and as you age.

Depression affects 1 in 10 or nearly 15 million adults in the U.S. If you think you might be depressed, don’t try to tough it out. Make an appointment with a doctor or therapist.

Garlic’s secret weapon One milligram of allicin, the active com-pound in garlic, equals about 15 iu of penicillin. Three cloves contain the same anti-bacterial activity as a standard dose of penicillin.

You may be concerned you have depression because…

You are having a diffi cult time dealing with stress

You can’t stop cryingor feeling sad

You often feel angry

You’ve lost interest in things you love

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Blood Sugar Swings Vary

Blood sugar can rise after drinking coffee – even black coffee with zero

calories – thanks to caffeine. Likewise, black tea, green tea and energy drinks can hinder blood sugar control in people with diabetes. Each person reacts differently, so it’s best to

track your own responses to foods and activi-ties or check with your doctor. Ironically,

other compounds in coffee may help prevent type 2 diabetes in people

who don’t have diabetes. healthy weight is a lifestyle choice . . .

Choose to be optimistic food Harvard School of Public Health claims cheerful people have fewer heart attacks and strokes, higher levels of “good” HDL cholesterol, and lower levels of triglycerides than gloomier people. Bonus: The more upbeat you are, the more cancer fi ghting carotenoids you have in your bloodstream. There’s no magic involved, researchers note that optimistic people tend to eat right, exercise and take good care of themselves. The sunnier life seems, the more you’re motivated to stick around to enjoy it.

Double the antioxidants in your salad To double the antioxidant power in your salad, pull off the leaves and soak for 10 minutes or longer in very cold water. Dry the greens in a spinner. Tear the leaves (this causes a surge of antioxidants), continue making your salad and enjoy!

Salt

DirectionsCut avocados in half and remove the seed. Scoop out the avocado into a bowl. Add a pinch of salt and mash up with a fork until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. Re-season to taste with salt.

You can’t stop cryingor feeling sad

You often feel angry

You’ve lost interest in things you love

a lifestyle choice . . . Choose to be optimistic food Harvard School of Public Health claims cheerful people have fewer heart attacks and strokes, higher levels of “good” HDL cholesterol, and lower levels of triglycerides than gloomier people. Bonus: The more upbeat you are, the more cancer fi ghting carotenoids you have in your bloodstream. There’s no magic involved, researchers note that optimistic people

themselves. The sunnier life

motivated to stick around to enjoy it.