Carbohydrates: Friend or Foe? Carbohydrates (aka "carbs) often get a bad rap—but are they really the enemy? In this workshop, Melissa Hehmann (Dietitian and Diabetes Educator) will explore the different types of carbs, and help you make smarter choices to manage blood sugars and long-term health.

What is a Healthy Citizen?

JULY ONSITE OFFICE HOURS

Onsite Blood Drive - General Office July 16th from 9am - Noon Donate to Save Lives & Earn Well Points You will be awarded 25 Well Points Reasons to Donate Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets. Approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U. S. Nearly 5,000 units of platelets and 6.500 units of plasma are needed daily in the U.S. Nearly 16 million blood components are transfused each year in the U.S. Sickle cell disease affects 90,000 to 100,000 people in the U.S. About 1,000 babies are born with the disease each year. Sickle cell patients can require blood transfusions throughout their lives. The average red blood cell transfusion is approximately 3 units. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they can only come from volunteer donors. The blood type most often requested by hospitals is type O. One donation can help save more than one life. According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.8 million people are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2020. Many of them will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.

Ever wondered what health coaching would be like, but never quite made the time to see for yourself? Here's what others are saying about what they valued from their own coaching experience:

A movement called "Plastic Free July" began in 2011, and for the past 14 years it has encouraged everyone, you and me included, to take their challenge to say no to single-serve plastics in the month of July, as well as swap some products out and lower overall plastic use even beyond the 31 days. While this effort is very important to marine life--and I'm sure we all care about the turtles--it hits even closer to home than many realize.

Low Vitamin D levels can impact your blood sugars by increasing insulin resistance, meaning the body is unable to respond to or use the insulin that it’s producing. Many studies have looked at the role of vitamin D in diabetes and have shown an association between low levels of vitamin D and increased risk for type 2 diabetes and its complications. And what’s concerning is that low levels of vitamin D—also dubbed the “sunshine” vitamin—are all too common, especially among older adults and people of certain ethnic/racial groups.

July is UV Safety Awareness Month. While sunshine is essential for your body to process vitamin D, ultraviolet (UV) radiation can quickly damage your skin, no matter your skin tone. Only about 5-30 minutes of sun exposure without sunscreen a couple times per week is sufficient to produce adequate Vitamin D. People with lighter skin will only need the minimum and those with darker skin will need more time in the sun.

It's July! The month of the 4th, summer celebrations, family vacations, cookouts, and... Social Wellness Month! What an appropriate time, when the sun is shining (or perhaps we should say beating?) down on us, it seems easier to connect with others. And according to studies, our society could use a lot more of that--deep connections that are the antidote to loneliness and feelings of isolation.

Don't let the summer heat get the best of you! Heat-related illnesses are preventable. Learn the symptoms and what to do if you or someone you know shows signs of having a heat-related illness.