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Wellness Newsletter Summer 2015

A PUBLICATION OF KENT STATE UNIVERSITY HUMAN RESOURCES

A Word from the Wellness Coordinator 1

2015 Annual Health Screenings Begin – What to Expect 2

FlashFit MOVChallenge Promotes Health Across Kent State’s Campus 3-4

OneWellU Walking Club 4-5

Depression Awareness 6

Faculty-Staff Exercise Program Transitions into Fit for Life University Workshop Course 6-7

Ask the Expert with Dr. Michael Schechter 8 - 9

Take Control of Your Allergies 9 - 10

The Summer 41111-12

Upcoming Wellness Activities and Events13-14

A Word from the Wellness Coordinator

Spring has sprung and we’re heading into summer. The warmer weather is enticing us to enjoy the outdoors. It is a time to engage in new activities or interests. You could hit the many bike paths in the area, enjoy our parks or work in the yard.

The change of seasons means the return of the wonderful farmers’ markets. Farmers’ markets are a great source for fresh local produce. Grilling will be the choice of cooking – both fast and easy. Read our article “Summer 411” to learn healthy grilling tips. Grilling is a healthy way to cook vegetables. The following is a simple recipe for tasty vegetables.

Laura KenneyCoordinator, University Wellness

Grilled Vegetables• 1/2 cup olive oil

• 1 clove garlic, minced

• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

• 1/2 pound yellow wax beans, trimmed

• 1 red bell pepper, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch strips

• 1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch strips

• 1 summer squash, trimmed, cut into 1/4-inch rounds

• 1/4 cup cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon seasoned salt

• 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed

1 zucchini, trimmed, cut into 1/4-inch rounds

Preparation1. Preheat grill to medium. Cut 6 12-by-18-inch pieces of

heavy-duty foil.

2. In a large bowl, whisk oil, vinegar, garlic, seasoned

salt and pepper. Add vegetables; toss to coat. Divide

vegetables evenly among foil pieces. Drizzle with any

remaining dressing.

3. Fold long sides of foil toward each other, crimping

edges to seal. Fold and crimp remaining edges, forming a

sealed packet.

4. Place packets, seam side up, on grill. Close grill and

cook for 20 minutes. To check for doneness, remove one

packet from grill, open carefully and taste a vegetable: It

should be crisp-tender. Carefully open packets and serve.

Enjoy your warm days & evenings!

OneWellU Wellness Summer 2015 |

2015 Annual Health Screenings Begin – What to Expect

The Division of Human Resources, along with partners Be Well Solutions and University Health Services, kicked off the annual health screening program for 2015. This year’s screening events began on April 21 and will continue throughout the year. Last year, more than 600 employees took advantage of the opportunity to receive this free, confidential, health screening and health risk assessment.

Full-time, benefits-eligible employees may register for the screenings via an online web portal supported by Be Well Solutions. This secure and confidential portal serves not only as a place for employees to track and monitor their own health and wellness progress, but it also offers numerous resources to educate participants on topics such as food, fitness, and stress management. All partici-pants have a personal account that includes an online health-risk assessment, as well as a personal health risk profile. The health-risk profile encom-passes results from the health-risk questionnaire, as well as any past health screening information, such as cholesterol, blood pressure, and glucose levels. The secure portal allows employees to track health screening results from year to year.

The entire annual health screening, including finger stick blood analysis, blood pressure, body mass index, and review process takes approxi-mately 30-45 minutes to complete. Employees receive a light snack immediately following the screening. As an added incentive, all participants receive a free MOVBand wrist-worn activity tracker. For 2015, any employee who already owns a MOVBand, will receive a $25 gift card for Dick’s Sporting Goods for completing the process.

Additionally, participants have the opportunity to reach out to a certified health coach from Be Well Solutions to assist them with setting any health goals they desire. The health coaches will help em-ployees start with identifying realistic goals and provide support and encouragement along the way. The top quartile of employees who are identified as high risk will receive a confidential invitation to work with a health coach; however, this is not required.

“Kent State offers multiple health management resources, including free screenings, health coaching, web-based tools, and diverse wellness programming to assist employees with making meaningful health improvements over the course of the year,” says Laura Kenney, coordinator, university wellness.

Dates: Friday, May 8th and Tuesday, May 12thTime: 7:30 a.m. – 10:30a.m.Place: Heer Hall – Conference Room 107

Scheduling for your screening appointment must be completed on Be Well Solutions’ website at www.bewelldata.com. If you are not already registered on Be Well Solutions’ website, instructions on how to register can be found on the OneWellU website under the “Be Well Solutions” icon.

Summer 2015 | OneWellU Wellness

FlashFit MOVChallenge Promotes Health Across Kent State’s Campus

By Endya Watson

Since Feb 1, Kent State University students, faculty and staff have been locked in a battle where even the losers are winners. Challengers in the FlashFit MOVChallenge are walking, running and moving for 90 days to promote health. The FlashFit MOVChallenge, organized by the

Faculty participant Rajeev Rajaram said the challenge gave him opportunities to intentionally exercise and meet new people.

“My main motivation for joining was to be more active, but along the way I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of faculty and staff I would not have met otherwise,” Rajaram said. “I tell my students all the time: good health is priceless, and I really think a lot of people have benefitted from this challenge in that regard.”

The participants were recommended to take 10,000 steps per day and 12,000 moves per day. Cope said the competition aspect made people more excited to meet the daily goal.

“Pitting the students against the faculty and staff was a motivating factor. Of course, one wants to beat the other,” Cope said. “Maybe if someone hadn’t met the 10,000 goal by the late afternoon, they would push themselves for the competition’s sake.”

Faculty participant, Nancy Miller, said she experienced a positive change in her health as a result of the challenge as she dropped two pant sizes.

By Endya Watson

First Place FlashFit Staff Winner, Nancy Miller (middle) with Laura Kenney and Mark McLeod.

“I was always a walker, but the MOVchallenge has really pushed me to do so much more,” Miller said. “So far, I’ve gone from a size 8 to a size 4.”

The celebration

Department of Recreational Services and the Division of Human Resources, pitted students against faculty and staff in a movement challenge. From Feb 1 to May 1, 2015, participants used MOVbands to track their daily steps and move-ments. More than 250 employees and 150 students joined the challenge.

Ben Cope, recreation program coordinator for the Department of Recreational Services, said “the MOVband is similar to a pedometer, but while pedometers only measure up and down movement of the knee, MOVbands have a 3-dimensional accelerometer that measures movement in all direction.”

Cope said the challenge has been popular among the Kent State community because it helps participants set exercise goals.

“The number one thing is that it promotes movement,” Cope said. “There’s an accountability factor with the tracking component. It helps people adhere to goal-oriented exercise rather than just aimlessly going out walking or running.”


30 Day Top Movers1st Place Mover - Mark Kretovics2nd Place Mover - Don Grubb3rd Place Mover - Nancy Miller

FlashFit MOVChallenge Promotes Health Across Kent State’s Campus (Cont.)

60 Day Top Movers1st Place Mover – Don Grubb2nd Place Mover – Nancy Miller3rd Place Mover - Mark Kretovics

90 Day Top Movers1st Place Mover – Nancy Miller2nd Place Mover – Don Grubb 3rd Place Mover – Mark Kretovics

Special acknowledgement goes to our 30, 60 and 90 – Day Top Movers:

OneWellU Walking Club

By Ashlyne Wilson

During a 10-week competition, Kent State University faculty and staff competed in the OneWellU Wellness Walking Club. From Jan. 12 to March 22, participants used a pedometer to track their steps in hopes of becoming the winner of the week.

Each week employees had a minimum amount of steps they needed to track. For weeks one and two, they needed to track 49,000 steps. They needed 56,000 steps for weeks three through six. And 70,000 steps for weeks seven through 10.

“The walking club has been one of our long-standing wellness activities,” says Dina Dusek, administrative clerk of the Benefits Department, who administered the event. “Having this

program during these cooler months helped to keep participants moving when the temptation was to cuddle up and stay warm.”

Each week, a winner was randomly drawn and awarded a $25 gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods or iTunes.

During the 10-week event, there were four Kent State employees acknowledged for achieving the most steps each week; each walked more than 100,000 steps.

The employee with the most steps for Week One was Lucy Omar, an academic advisor for the College of Arts and Sciences. She tallied 124,800 steps.

Cope said the challenge was a fun way to get people moving, but more than that it is a great contributor to overall health.

“The main thing is health. It’s not just looking better but all of the things that movement can do for you as opposed to being sedentary,” Cope said. “So the idea of movement promotes a healthy immune system and a good overall well-being.”

On May 6, a wrap-up celebration was held to recognize the team and individual winners and all those who participated. Those in attendance enjoyed a healthy lunch and fun “MOVment” activities including bubble soccer, PiYo, corn hole, ladder golf and disc golf. The “Golden Arm” trophy was presented to the Faculty/Staff as the winning team. The individual winners were also

announced. Over the 90 day challenge, student winner, Anthony Torre, logged 2058 miles and Nancy Miller, staff member, logged 2181 miles. Anthony won an Apple iPad Air 2 tablet. Nancy being the top faculty/staff participant won an iPad mini with retina display and a $25 iTunes gift card.

Enjoying bubble soccer


OneWellU Walking Club (Cont.)

“I used the Walking Club as the beginning of a new lifestyle change,” she said. “I wanted to get more fit and healthy, and I used it as my motiva-tion.”

She says that she walked on the track of the Kent State Recreational Center for an hour daily and has stopped using elevators since joining.

“I parked farther away so I had more time to walk and played a lot with my nieces and nephews,” she said. “Music really motivated me to keep moving during my walks.”

She says that she had a lot of fun while walking for the Club and says that others should join because “you just feel so great afterwards.”

Since then, Omar has joined the faculty and staff exercise program to continue her new fitness lifestyle.

Amy Copus, graduate operations specialist, walked 133,399 steps during week two, and 165,744 during week three. She says that she walks her dog everyday so it wasn’t hard for her to achieve such a high walking goal.

“I have a great dane and she’s hyperactive so we walk four or five miles every morning,” she says. “When I won I was happy, but it was nothing I went over and beyond for since it was something that I normally do.”

When giving advice to people as to why they should join the Walking Club, she says, “Just do it!”

“Walking is fairly easy and doesn’t take any special equipment. There’s no reason not to go for it.”Alice Kopunovitz, administrative assistant for Communication Studies, accumulated 128,940 steps during week four.

She says that she’s very active and is constantly running and doing outdoor activities. She walks a minimum of four miles when she walks along the trail by the river near her house, and likes to hike whenever she can.

“Four years ago I lost 100 pounds,” she says. “So I am very determined to stay healthy, and I would

rather work out then not eat.”

She was hesitant to join the Walking Club, she says, because she doesn’t care for fitness classes or clubs because she likes to work out alone to clear her mind and think.

“It was a lot more motivating than I expected it to be,” she says. “If I can do it, anyone can.”

Evelyn Bailey-Tuttle, business manager for Residence Services, was the highest stepper during the last five weeks of the Walking Club, with an average of 232,245 steps per week.

“I don’t sit down well at all,” she says. “I was fortunate enough that I got a standing desk at work, so that added some steps.”

Bailey-Tuttle says she had an advantage because she already has a very active lifestyle. Since she works at a residence hall with six floors, she can

accumulate up to 10,000 steps in one shift. She also has two dogs, including one that is a puppy who needs a lot of exercise. She lives in the country, has four acres and gardens for fun. She says she’s so active that she doesn’t even sit down to eat.

“I hate sitting,” she says. “If you want to punish me, put me in a meeting for two or three hours; that would kill me.”

Each of the winners says that fitness was the first priority in joining the club, and they advise everyone to get out there and do whatever activity makes them feel good.

For more information on the OneWellU pro-grams, visit http://www.kent.edu/hr/benefits/wellness.


Depression Awareness

1. How many people globally are affected by some sort of depression?A. 150 Million B. 350 Million C. 200 Million

2. What is the percentage of adolescents who will have a depressive disorder by the age of 18?A. 5% B. 8% C. 11%

3. Depression will typically get better on its own over time. (Dr. Gecht-IMPACT Solutions)A. True B. False

4. What percentage of patients treated for depression show an improvement in their symptoms within 4 – 6 weeks? (National Institutes of Health)A. 80% B. 15% C. 45%

If a co-worker, a family member or you may be suffering from symptoms of depression, Kent State University has resources to assist. For additional information about depression, visit www.RightDirectionForMe.com where you can anonymously access more information about the signs of depression, how it impacts your life, and available resources. KSU employees and family members also have access to IMPACT Solutions Employee Assistance Program, which provides free, confidential professional counseling for up to six (6) visits. For additional information, visit www. myimpactsolution.com, enter username KENT.

Faculty-Staff Exercise Program Transitions into Fit for Life University Workshop Course

By Jake Crissman

For the last two years, the Faculty-Staff Exercise Program has been helping Kent State faculty and staff members improve their lifestyles in a healthy and fun way. Beginning this summer, the Faculty-Staff Exercise Program will be offered as a university course/workshop and will be open to all who want to be proactive about their physical fitness. The new program, called “Fit for Life,” will be a one-credit course and is set up as a workshop with different meeting times aimed to fit everyone’s busy schedule.

The class meets three times a week Monday, Wednesday and Friday with sessions at 6 a.m., 12 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. Each session offers a wide array of classes, including weight training, cardio dance, cardio kick, boot camp, yoga, a cardio and resistance circuit, aqua aerobics and supervised exercise. All classes take place in the MACC Annex and last about an hour.

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Depression if left untreated may affect feelings, thinking and behavior as well as it may lead to a variety of emotional and physical concerns. There are multiple symptoms of depression such as sadness/unhappiness, irritability, loss of interest, sleep concerns, anxiety, agitation, feelings of worthlessness, and to a lesser extent, thoughts of death, suicidal ideation – with possible attempts at suicide. Depression may be triggered by many things. It could be physical changes/concerns such as biological differences, brain chemistry, fluctuations in hormones, inherited traits, or it could be an event that has occurred in an individual’s life. The following are some thought provoking questions. Test your knowledge below and check your answers on page 14.


Faculty-Staff Exercise Program Transitions into Fit for Life University Workshop Course (Cont.)Fit for Life will be offered as two 15-week sessions in the spring and fall semesters and two 5-week sessions in the summer.

Classes are taught and run by experienced exercise science students at the undergraduate, masters and PhD level. Curtis Fennell and Hayden Gerhart are the current graduate students helping with the program.

“People engaged in our program exercise more consistently and enjoy it more than people not in our program,” says program administrator Dr. Ellen Glickman.

Open to everybody

The Faculty-Staff Exercise Program started out in the summer of 2013 as a collaboration between the Division of Human Resources and the School of Exercise Science. The program was fully funded by the Division of Human Resources and the goal was to address faculty and staff members’ reservations and anxieties about working out in general. The program was designed to meet the participant wherever they might be on the spectrum of physical activity. For some, they may have been very sedentary or perhaps recovering from a recent injury/surgery. The program offered a comfortable environment for people to learn more about themselves and exercise with trained exercise professionals. Participants also benefit from a sense of community and partnership toward an end goal of fitness. As the program moves from a wellness initiative designed by Human Resources into an institutional workshop course, this unique exercise experience will now be open to everyone. Not only are students able to take part in the program, but now anyone from outside the university is welcome to attend classes as well. All ages and all levels of fitness, whether beginning, intermediate or advanced, are encouraged to join.

“Exercising with other people is so much more motivating than doing it by yourself,” says Fennell. “Lots of research says that group exercise, especially for previously sedentary people, is a great experi-ence that leads to adopting a regular habit of exercising and healthy behavior. That’s what is great about this program; we work interdependently, not independently.”

Fit for Life

As healthcare in this country becomes increasingly unaffordable and we as human beings grow increas-ingly sedentary and continue to spend huge sums of money on pharmaceuticals for anxiety, depression, sleep, weight loss and diabetes, Glickman says it becomes abundantly clear that being healthy is just simply more cost effective.

The program has produced what Glickman calls her “stars.” These are individuals who have lost 20-80

pounds and continue to push themselves and those around them to keep moving. Exercise is medicine is the big message that Glickman hopes to get across.

“We started out with a nice community, the faculty and staff,” says Glickman, “but to be able to branch out and reach other people is really great. It’s been a lot of fun, integrating students with faculty and staff and having everyone work together, and we’ve all had fun and we’ve learned a lot from each other.”

OneWellU Wellness

Ask the Expert with Dr. Michael Schechter

Summer 2015 |

Know Your Numbers in 2015: Glucose (Blood Sugar)

Dr. Michael Schechter has extensive experience as a physician and health educator. After working for 15 years in the public and private sectors, Dr. Schechter and his partners established Be Well Solutions in 2005. The mission of Be Well is to bring strategies for prevention and early detection to individuals

Q. Why are certain numbers important to my health?

A. When doctors look at your overall health risk, they look at several factors, including your daily exercise and dietary habits, tobacco use and family history. They also look at certain screening numbers including blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and body mass index (BMI). Today we’re going to concentrate on blood sugar.

Q. How does blood sugar relate to my overall health?

A. Diabetes is the condition characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is diagnosed through a blood sugar reading. Diabetes is a major health problem in the United States because high sugar levels damage blood vessels throughout our bodies and, over time, cause damage to our feet, eyes, kidneys, brain and heart.

The only way to know if you have diabetes or “pre-diabetes” (a reversible condition) is to have your blood sugar checked. It is best to have your blood sugar tested after you’ve been fasting – nothing to eat or drink except water – for at least 10 hours.

Q. What causes abnormal blood sugar?

A. When people eat a meal, the food and beverages increase blood sugar levels. Insulin, a chemical produced by the pancreas, is released in response to the meal. The insulin helps the sugar go from the blood into your body’s cells where it is used for energy.

In younger people, the pancreas may suddenly shut down and stop producing insulin. This is called “type 1 diabetes”. These people have to inject themselves with insulin to help keep their sugar numbers in balance.

There is another type of diabetes – “type 2 diabetes”, which has become a major problem in the United States. Type 2 diabetes usually happens when the insulin that is being produced by the pancreas stops working as well as it should, and blood sugar levels begin to rise. Many people believe the increase in type 2 diabetes is due to the increase in high sugar foods available to all Americans. Today the average American eats four times as much sugar as they did 40 years ago.

OneWellU Wellness

Ask the Expert with Dr.Michael Schechter (Cont.)

Summer 2015 |

Category

Healthy Levels

Pre-diabetic or Borderline Levels

Diabetic (High) Levels

Fasting Sugar

70-100 mg/DL

120-139 mg/DL

126 mg/DL or Higher

Non-Fasting Sugar

Less than 140 mg/DL

141-199 mg/DL

200 mg/DL or Higher

Q. Are there symptoms of high blood sugar?

A. High blood sugar doesn’t usually cause physical symptoms at first. Once diabetes develops, people may experience excess thirst and hunger, excessive urination, fatigue and weight loss. However, many times people don’t recognize these symptoms and walk around with diabetes for years.

Q. What can be done to keep blood sugar under control?

A. The sooner someone discovers a high blood sugar reading, the better. A simple practice to improve blood sugar combines the strategy of eating less and burning more sugar through diet changes and regular exercise.

Reversing pre-diabetes and keeping healthy blood sugar levels can usually be done by following a diet low in added sugar and simple carbohydrates (cookies, white bread, white rice and pastas), and watching high sugar drinks like juices, energy drinks and soda pop. Regular exercise, such as walking every day, and simple resistance training routines help us burn sugar more efficiently and keep our level normal.

Diabetes must be managed in partnership with your doctor. People with diabetes need to follow their blood sugars regularly, and aim for long term targets set by the doctor.

Q. What blood sugar measurements are considered healthy?

A. As mentioned above, blood sugar can be measured in the fasting or non-fasting state. Most doctors believe fasting levels are the most meaningful screening measurement. Healthy blood sugar levels are usually between 70 and 100 mg/DL. Non-fasting levels depend on the meal or beverage that was eaten – the closer to the test and the more sugar in the meal, the higher the non-fasting level will be.

Take Control of Your Allergies - Understand and Manage Your SymptomsAllergy signs and treatments

Watery eyes, itchiness, runny nose. Sound famil-iar? If it does, you might have allergies.

An allergic reaction is when your immune system has a bad response to something. It normally protects our body from getting sick because of

things like bacteria and viruses. It also helps protect you against allergens, the things that set off an allergic reaction. When it doesn’t do that job, it’s like having a really sensitive alarm system – it alerts your body to things that really shouldn’t cause a reaction.


What causes allergies?

A lot of people have allergies. Your genes and the environment can play a role in that. If both of your parents have allergies, you’ll probably have allergies. But you may not be allergic to the same things or have the same reactions.

Common allergy triggers are:

•Pollen•Mold•Pet dander•Dust•Food•Medicines•Insect bites•Jewelry•Makeup•Spices

Signs

Allergy symptoms can be different from one person to the next. But here are some common signs:

•Breathing problems•Burning, tearing, itchy, red or swollen eyes•Coughing•Diarrhea•Headache•Hives•Itchy nose, mouth, throat, skin or other part of the body•Runny nose•Skin rash•Stomach cramps •Throwing up•Wheezing

What can you do? If you think you have an allergy, tell your doctor. Here are some ways to test for an allergy:

•Skin test•Blood test or complete blood count•Use or elimination tests: using certain things to see if you get worse or avoiding certain things to see if you get better

The best way to reduce your symptoms is to try to avoid the things that cause your allergies. Sometimes, that’s not so easy to do. It might be easy to stay away from certain foods or medicines. But if your allergy trigger comes from the air around you, it can be hard to avoid.

Allergies can’t be cured, but there are ways to treat and relieve your symptoms. Treatment will depend on the kind of allergy you have and how bad it is. Medicines or allergy shots may help. But you may need to get shots for years before they work. And they don’t always work for everyone.

Severe allergic reactions, called anaphylaxis, need to be treated with a medicine called epinephrine. It can save a person’s life if it’s taken immediately after a severe allergic reaction.

Allergies in kids

Some research has shown that breastfeeding babies until they’re at least 4 months old may help prevent an allergy to cow’s milk. Changes in the mother’s diet while she’s pregnant or breastfeed-ing don’t seem to make a difference in preventing allergies in kids. But the timing of when your kids start eating solid foods and when they first try certain foods can help prevent some allergies.

Some kids may outgrow allergies when they get older, especially food allergies.

Take Control of Your Allergies - Understand and Manage Your Symptoms (Cont.)


Take Control of Your Allergies - Understand and Manage Your Symptoms (Cont.)

Tips to allergy-proof your environment:

•Windows: Keep them closed and use air conditioning if you’re allergic to pollen.•Temperature: Dust mites and mold love hot, humid houses. So keep the temperature in yourhome at 70°. And keep the humidity under 50% to prevent mold from growing.•Bed and bedding: Wash your sheets, pillowcases and blankets at least once a week in hot water. Use covers for pillows, mattresses and box springs to help against dust mites.•Floors: If you can, get hardwood or linoleum floors instead of carpet. Make sure any rugs are washable to help control dust and mold. Vacuum at least once a week.•Smoking: Don’t let anyone smoke in your home. Avoid cigarette smoke when you go out.•Cleaning: Wear a painter’s mask when you vacuum or clean, work in the garden or mow the lawn.•Food: Always check the labels of what you’re eating or drinking to make sure they don’t have anything you’re allergic to. •Medicines: If you have a drug allergy, you need to avoid taking the drug and others like it. Think about wearing a medical alert bracelet, in case you have an emergency.

Source: Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shields – “Time Well Spent”

The Summer 411

Sun Well: Protecting Your Skin

Follow these simple tips for sun-safe skin:

•Always wear sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15. Broad spectrum sunscreens are best as they absorb a higher percentage of UVA and UVB sun rays.

•Apply sunscreen generously to all exposed areas at least 20 to 30 minutes before going outside. This allows the sunscreen to bind to your skin so it won’t immediately “sweat” off.

•Make sure to apply sunscreen to the places you typically might not think of: your lips, ears, between your fingers and toes, back of your neck, even the bottoms of your feet if you will be barefoot and lying on your stomach. Reapply sunscreen every few hours and especially after swimming.

•Avoid peak hours — usually between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. This is when the sun’s rays are most intense.

•Wear a wide-brim hat, sunglasses and other protective clothing. Hats with at least a three-inch brim are best; sunglasses should protect against UVB rays; clothing should be lightweight and tightly woven for the most protection. You can test to see if your clothing has an adequate weave by placing your hand inside the garment and holding it up to a light. If you can’t see your hand through the fabric, it’s prob-ably a good choice for cover.

•Stay shaded under a canopy or umbrella when outdoors during peak hours

•Don’t sunbathe

•Don’t use artificial tanning devices, such as tanning beds or lamps. Instead, try a safer self-tanning product. Smear it on with a pair of latex or plastic gloves to avoid bronzing your palms, let it dry a few minutes and go. Remember to use sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 underneath self-tanning products, since they typically don’t contain any protection.


The Summer 411 (Cont.)

•Keep infants out of the sun. The melanin in their skin isn’t fully developed and they can burn more easily than older children and adults. If an infant must be in the sun, make sure his or her clothing completely covers the body. Include a hat with a wide brim that shades the baby’s face and ears, and keep him or her shaded under an umbrella. Sunscreen on babies’ skin isn’t always recommended, especially for those younger than 6 months. It’s best to talk to your pediatrician before applying sun-screen to your baby’s skin.

For more information on protecting your skin, check out following sites:

•National Cancer Institute: cancer.gov

•American Cancer Society: cancer.org

•American Academy of Dermatology: aad.org

•Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov

•National Institutes of Health: nih.gov

Source: Anthem BC BS

Healthy Grilling 101

As the weather gets warmer, grilling is a delicious way to prepare food. If you are grilling for a family dinner or hosting a Memorial Day BBQ, consider the following to keep the food you’re grilling for family and friends healthy and safe.

Meat, Poultry & Fish

1. Don’t Char Animal Proteins – Charring meat, poultry or fish can cause harmful carcinogens that can damage your DNA and lead to cancer.

2. Marinate your Meat – Soaking your meat with a vinegar or lemon based marinade can help reduce carcinogen formation.

3. Choose Health Options – Fish, lean turkey burgers and chicken breasts without the skin are healthier options. If you are preparing red meats or pork, always trim the fat before grilling.

Fruits & Veggies

1. Veggies are Safe – If you’re looking for a blackened flavor, vegetables are the way to go! Unlike animal proteins, they do not develop unhealthy carcinogens when charred.

2. Grill your Fruit – Fruits are low in calories and are loaded with fiber, vitamins and minerals. The natural sugars caramelize with the heat, giving fruits like pineapple, peaches or nectarines an even greater flavor.

Source: Be Well Solutions

OneWellU Wellness

Rachel Gill

May

6 FlashFit MOVChallenge Celebration from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. – Kent State University, Kent Campus – Student Recreation Fields (by Stewart Hall)8 Annual Free Health Screenings from 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - Heer Hall Room 1079 Portage Learning Center’s 5K - Mogadore, OH 12 Annual Free Health Screenings from 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - Heer Hall Room 10716 FlashDash at Salem campus - https://www.kent.edu/columbiana/general-information17 Haymaker Farmers’ Markets – starting every Saturday from 9a.m.- 1p.m. - http:// haymakermarket.com/19 Lunch & Learn – Retirement Readiness: Retire or Rewire? from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Heer Hall Room 10723 Northcoast 5K – Kent, OH - https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Kent/Northcoast5k?30 Race for Case 5K – Akron, OH - https://runsignup.com/Race/OH/Akron/ RaceforCase5K1MileFunRunWalk?

June

6, 13, 20, 27 Kent’s Farmers Market - http://kentfarmersmarket.com/6-8 Annual SFC Daniel B. Carbtree Memorial 5K –Cuyahoga Falls http://www.walkjogrun.net/events/running/8th-Annual-SFC-Daniel-B-Crabtree-Memorial- 5K/aid-d7207bc9-fa9c-4772-b791-a8f23316678b9 Lunch & Learn – Exploring Your Options – How to Help meet your Financial Objectives from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Heer Hall Room 10711 Annual Free Health Screenings from 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - Heer Hall Room 10713 PurpleStride Cleveland – Cleveland, OH20 Akron Autism 5K Run & Walk – Akron, OH23 Annual Free Health Screenings from 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - Heer Hall Room 10724 A Walking Lunch & Learn from 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. Place to be announced27 Run for the Hills – Macedonia, OH

July3 Independence Day 5K & 10K – Akron, OH - http://www.moonjoggers.com/independence- day-5k/4 Tree City 5K – Kent, OH - http://www.treecityrace.com/19 Festa Italiana 5k & 1 mile Fun Run - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - http://www.festaitalianacf.com/ 11, 18, 25 Kent’s Farmers Market – Kent, OH - http://kentfarmersmarket.com/14 Annual Free Health Screenings from 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - Heer Hall Room 10725 Day at the Zoo 5K – Kent, OH - http://www.hermescleveland.com/roadracing/events/ wigsforkids.asp29 Annual Free Health Screenings from 7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. - Heer Hall Room 107

Summer 2015 |

Upcoming Wellness Activities and Events


Upcoming Wellness Activities and Events (Cont.)

August1, 8, 22, 29 Kent’s Farmers Market – Kent, OH - http://kentfarmersmarket.com/1 Matt Kauffman Memorial 5K – Akron, OH - http://www.active.com/akron- oh/running/distance-running-races/matt-kauffman-memorial-5k-2015?cmp=39- 34&ltclickid=04_107466821_1dc005a8-9cea-435a-9a9f-6d4a3f921d20&ltcmp=2543018 LifeBanc Gift of Life Walk/Run – Cuyahoga Falls, OH https://www.lifebanc.org/news-and-events/gift-of-life-walk-and-run.html15 Circle City Mile 2015 – Tallmadge, OH - https://endurancecui.active.com/event- reg/select-race?e=1059315330 Fox Trot 5K and one mile – Cleveland, OH http://hermescleveland.com/roadracing/events/fox8.asp

Answers to Depression Awareness Quiz:

1. 350,000,000; 2. 11%; 3. ; 50% 4. False; 5. 80%

weigh wellness newsletter - kent

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