FDA Alerts Consumers to Pistachio Recall

The FDA and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) are investigating Salmonella contamination in pistachio products sold by Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella Inc, Calif. The company has stopped all distribution of processed pistachios and will issue a voluntary recall involving approximately 1 million pounds of its products. Because the pistachios were used as ingredients in a variety of foods, it is likely this recall will impact many products. In addition, the investigation at the company is ongoing and may lead to additional pistachio product recalls.

The contamination involves multiple strains of Salmonella. Salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Thus far, several illnesses have been reported by consumers that may be associated with the pistachios. It is not yet known whether any of the Salmonella strains found in the pistachio products are linked to an outbreak. The FDA is conducting genetic testing of the samples to pursue all links.

FDA is working closely with the pistachio industry and recommends that consumers avoid eating pistachio products until further information is available about the scope of affected products.

FDA will provide a searchable database of affected products at http://www.fda.gov/ and will continue to update the public.

FDA first learned of the problem on March 24, when it was informed by Kraft Foods that its Back To Nature Trail Mix was found to be contaminated with Salmonella. Kraft had identified the source of the contamination to be pistachios from Setton and conducted a recall.

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The original version of this press release can be found here.

Fit Physical Activity into Your Life, Your Way

The more you do, the more benefits you gain.

Adults gain substantial health benefits from two hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate aerobic physical activity, and children benefit from an hour or more of physical activity a day, according to the new Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. On October 7, 2008, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, a comprehensive set of recommendations for people of all ages and physical conditions.

The comprehensive, science-based guidelines were developed to inform policymakers and health providers about the amounts, types, and intensity of physical activity needed to help Americans aged 6 and older improve their health and reduce their risk of chronic diseases.

The Guidelines set achievable goals for everyone and can be customized according to a person’s interests, lifestyle, and goals. Regular physical activity over months and years produces long-term health benefits and reduces the risk of many diseases. The more physically active you are, the more health benefits you gain.

A main message of the Guidelines is that for inactive persons some activity is better than none. Persons who have been inactive for some time are encouraged to start at a comfortable level and add a little more activity as they go along. For most health outcomes, additional benefits occur as the amount of physical activity increases through higher intensity, greater frequency, and /or more time per session. Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle-strengthening (resistance) activities are beneficial and are included as part of the Guidelines.

Resources also are available for the public including the booklet, Be Active Your Way, A Guide to Adults.

For More Information:

Easy-to-use information about the Guidelines is available online at http://www.healthfinder.gov/. To access the guidelines and to find links to other resources for professionals, visit http://www.health.gov/paguidelines and http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity.

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This article was reproduced with the kind permission of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

(Carefully) Springing Into Action

Now that Spring has sprung, many of us are out the door and investing time and energy in our fitness and health. Living here in New England, the long, cold winters force many of us into semi-hibernation, and summertime exercise routines often give way to wintertime couch-surfing.

Back in early January, some of us made New Year's resolutions to begin exercising again after the excesses of the holidays, and while we may have gone to the gym ten times in January, perhaps we've not been going so frequently in February and March.

So, as the days (oh so slowly!) begin to warm, it can be exhilarating to get your body moving again. The bicycles come out of the garage, the sneakers are fetched from the closet, and we're thrilled to be outdoors with grass under our feet and the sunny sky above.

If you haven't been exercising for a few months---or perhaps for the entire Winter---it's a good idea to start slow. Many "weekend warriors" injure themselves unnecessarily when jump-starting their previous exercise routines, so be gentle as you get your body back up to speed.

Despite our deepest desires, we cannot make up for lost time and skipped exercise in a few short weeks. So if you are rebooting your exercise regimen and are inclined to go for a run, hop on your bike, or begin lifting weights again, remember that your muscles need to be warmed up for exercise, and even though your mind may be racing ahead to the finish line, your body will need some time to catch up. If you have a regular stretching routine with which you're familiar, reacquaint yourself with that routine and warm those muscles up well before taking off like a shot for a 5-mile run. If you're a biker, make sure your bike's brakes and other mechanical parts are up to snuff, and do your stretches before hitting the road.

Getting started gently in the early days of Spring can help your body become accustomed once again to the rigors of regular exercise. Meanwhile, if you're kicking yourself for slacking off in the colder months, perhaps you can begin planning now for a way to make your exercise routine more sustainable throughout the year.

Good luck as you begin your Spring training, and remember to take it slow as you begin anew! Please stay tuned for the launch of a weekly employee walking club, and please visit the Health Department table at the upcoming Employee Benefits Fairs on April 29th. See you there!

~Keith Carlson, RN, BSN

Get Screened, Prevent Colorectal Cancer

By Dr. Lauren Smith, MA Department of Public Health

For many of us, getting a colonoscopy isn’t at the top of our To Do list. But a colonoscopy— a test that screens for colon cancer— can find colon cancer before you even notice any symptoms. In fact, it may stop you from getting cancer to begin with. If you are 50 or older, talk to your doctor about getting tested today. Most colon cancers are preventable with routine screening and, when detected early, are almost always treatable. This is a screening test that can save your life.

Despite this, colon cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer death in Massachusetts- only about half of adults get screened. Colorectal cancer occurs most often in people over the age of 50, and it affects both men and women.

Everyone should talk to their doctor about colon cancer screening once the turn 50, but if you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or certain polyps, an inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), or certain other conditions, your chances of developing colon cancer may be greater. So your doctor may want you to get tested before age 50.

Want to decrease your chances of developing colon cancer? Here’s how:

• Get screened for colorectal cancer at age 50 (or earlier if you have any of the risk factors I mentioned)
• Get at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Eat no more than 2 – 3 servings of red meat per week
• Eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day
• Take a multivitamin that contains essential folic acid
• Have no more than 1 alcoholic drink a day
• Don’t smoke

You can find out more information about colon cancer and how to prevent it at http://www.cancer.gov/ and http://www.mass.gov/dph/cancer.

Check out our video on You Tube where real people in Boston share their personal stories about undergoing colon cancer testing, and what it meant to their health and their lives. And tell us your story.

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This post reproduced with the kind permission of the MA Department of Public Health. To see the original version of this article, please click here and visit the DPH public health blog, Commonwealth Conversations.

New Study: Obesity Decreases Life Expectancy

Following up on yesterday's post about calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI), a new study released by the University of Oxford demonstrates conclusively that obesity has a direct impact on life expectancy.

Analyzing 57 studies that followed approximately 1 million people for over 10 years, the data obtained is incontrovertible that a BMI greater than 25 has a significant impact on the number of years that a person will live. With a BMI of 23 to 24 being most protective against early death, people with a BMI of 30 to 35 lost approximately 3 years of life, while those with a BMI greater than 40 lost an average of 10 years, about the same as those who smoke for a lifetime.

With one third of middle-aged Americans now classified as overweight, American health officials are concerned that previous reductions in the incidence of heart disease may be lost in the coming decades as Americans become less fit and more prone to obesity.

If you are concerned about your weight and have interest in understanding how you might be able to lose weight and become more fit, please contact the Amherst Health Department, and also stay tuned for new fitness programs which will be announced at the upcoming Health Benefits Fair in late April.

Calculating Your BMI

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Body Mass Index (BMI) is, "a number calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems."

Calculating your BMI is quite easy, and in fact, you can click here to visit the CDC's online BMI calculator, plug in your numbers, and receive your results instantly.

For information on interpreting your BMI results, the CDC offers other online resources available by clicking here.

The Body Mass Index is simply a tool which assists in identifying the presence of obesity, or the risk of becoming obese. While the BMI uses only weight and height to measure relative body fat, it is recognized that athletes and those with increased muscle mass may indeed have BMIs which would put them in the overweight category. While you can use the CDC's tool to measure your BMI, you may indeed need a doctor or professional fitness instructor or trainer to assist you interpreting the results.

There are many tools to measure one's health and fitness, but in the end, you are the best judge of whether you are fit or not. Remember that data is useful, but how you interpret or apply it in your life is key. If you have questions or concerns regarding your weight, your BMI, or your level of fitness, consult a health care professional for support, assistance, and advice.

Too Much of a Good Thing?

I love food. I love to eat food and I love to talk about food. Food is always on my mind. If you are like me, you could use some help figuring out just when you have had enough to eat.

Without realizing it, most of us eat way too much at mealtime. Our bodies may be full, but the food is so yummy that it is hard to stop! “Supersized” meals have also become the normal meal size—our expanding waistlines are proof of that. So what can you do to get in control of your food portions? Below are a few tips that may be helpful to get in control and avoid a growing waistline. Try them out and decide which one works best for you!

Measuring: On most food packaging there is a Nutrition Facts label that helps us to determine exactly what a serving is. Measuring a serving of food is a great way to control your portion sizes. Ideally, you would use measuring cups, spoons or a scale to get the ‘perfect’ sized portion. But let’s face it, you can’t carry these tools around with you when you go out to eat or if you’re in a rush in the morning! I recommend trying this method when you are first starting to measure portion sizes. It is a good way to see exactly what a serving looks like.

Eyeballing: When you have become a pro at measuring serving sizes give this method a try. Eyeballing a serving uses common objects to compare your foods with. Here are a few examples to help keep portions in check:

• A serving of a fruit or vegetable is about the size of your fist.
• A serving of pasta, rice or cereal is about the size of a scoop of ice cream.
• A serving of meat, fish or poultry is about the size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand.
• A serving of cheese is the size of a pair of dice.
• A bagel should be no larger than a hockey puck.
• Snacks such as pretzels or chips should fit in your cupped hand.
• A potato should be the size of a computer mouse.

The Plate Method: And finally, my favorite—the plate method! It’s an easy no-fail method that can be used for breakfast, lunch and dinner whether you are eating out or at home. Follow these rules and you will eat the perfect portion at every meal:

1. Visually divide your plate in half and then divide one side in half again.

2. Fill the large half with fruits or vegetables, one quarter with a starch (preferably whole grains) and the other quarter with lean protein.

Once you get the hang of your portion sizes, it gets easier to avoid overeating. Keep in mind, there is no such thing as good or bad foods. There is room for every type of food in your diet, just in moderation!

Do you have any tricks to keep your portion sizes in check? We’d love to hear them!

Written by Kara Ryan, Nutrition Education Specialist at DPH

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Reproduced with the kind permission of the MA Department of Public Health. This article originally published on the DPH public health blog, "Commonwealth Conversations". The original article can be seen by clicking here.

Being active when you’re at work…

... isn’t as hard as you think. We tend to think that we have to go outside, change our clothes, sweat a lot or wear fancy gear to be active, but there are creative ways that we can add activity to our day… right in cube-land.

The first thing you should do is start wearing a pedometer to see how many steps you get in during a typical workday. This will help you get a feel for how active you are right now. Ideally, you should take 10,000 steps every day.

Not getting as many steps as you would like? Try these ideas:

• Walk to your coworker’s desk and talk to them in person, rather than sending an email or calling them.
• Go to the bathroom two floors up— and make sure you take the stairs to get there!
• Speaking of stairs— if your knees are kind to you, and will allow you to do so, take the stairs any chance you get. Especially when you’re going just a couple of flights. If you can help it, try not to be that person who takes the elevator to go down one floor.
• If you do have to go to the bathroom on your floor, then do like my friend Amber does and lunge all the way back to your desk. You may want to do them quickly so that your coworkers don’t catch you. Of course if you do get caught, you’ll be setting a good example for the others!
• Set your default printer to be one that is farther away than your current printer. But, try to keep the printing to a minimum… we also want to be green here, people!
• As I mentioned in my first blog, go to the Dunkies or Starbucks that’s a block or two farther away than your regular spot.
• And, the good old standby: Grab a friend and take a walk during lunch- even if it’s just for 10 minutes.

As I said, you’ll want to buy a pedometer so that you can track your steps and make sure you’re on track to increasing your activity. You can find one almost anywhere these days - retail outlets, sporting goods stores or online. They can be pricey (around $30-$40), but you can also find a basic version for 4-5 bucks.

Another way to sneak more activity into your workday is to make it a policy to hold “active” meetings - particularly when the meetings are several hours in length. Check out MDPH Healthy Meetings + Event Guide for more tips.

And there’s no need to stop there. You can stretch and tone your muscles at your desk too. But, we’re not going to get into that today…. stay tuned for a future blog on that.

I can guess what you’re thinking… it sounds pretty silly (um, lunging across the office floor? Come on, now!) But do me a favor and try it out. You’ll be surprised to see how these small changes quickly add up to lots of activity over the course of the day. (But remember to leave time in your day to do your actual work though. I would hate to get angry emails from employers!).

Tell us some ways that you are active at work!

By Maya Mohan, Department of Public Health

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Reproduced with kind permission from the MA Department of Public Health's Commonwealth Conversations Public Health Blog.

Please click here to see the original post.

Abdominal Breathing: A Breath of Fresh Air

Breath is life, as they say, and breathing is something we unconsciously do from the moment we're born until the moment we take our final breath. Breathing is essential to the delivery of life-giving oxygen to the cells of the body, and the physiological processes that breathing supports are part and parcel of what fuels our body, powers our brains, and keeps our organs functioning.

However, are you conscious of how you breathe? Have you ever considered whether you breathe from your chest or from your belly? Do you know that, if we choose to, we can consciously use the breath as a means of relaxation and self-nourishment at any given moment?

As an illustration, take a deep breath as you read this sentence. Now take another one. Did you notice anything about the way that you breathe? When you took that breath, did your shoulders rise and fall or did your abdomen expand and contract? Contrary to popular opinion, when you take a deep breath, your shoulders should barely move at all. What should move is your abdomen, which allows your lungs to expand to their fullest capacity.

Let's explore this notion further. Your torso is made up of the chest cavity and the abdominal cavity, and there is a band of muscle called the diaphragm that separates the two. When you breathe correctly and expand your abdominal wall, the powerful diaphragm descends into the abdominal cavity, expanding the available space for the lungs to expand. This is important, since your breath is the only way for oxygen to enter your bloodstream and reach those oxygen-hungry cells.

So, let's try some abdominal breathing. For best results as you begin these exercises, try lying on your bed with a pillow under your knees, or sit comfortably but alertly in a chair. Place one or two hands on your solar plexus, the area in the upper abdomen just a few inches above your umbilicus/belly-button. As you inhale, let your shoulders relax and focus on making your hand rise and fall as your belly expands and contracts. If you're usually a "chest breather", this sensation may be odd at first, but keep with it and see if you can become accustomed to breathing this way. You may find that this type of breathing is very relaxing, and if you practice it as you're going to sleep, you may even find yourself falling asleep more easily. (Add relaxing music or a guided meditation CD, and you'll be snoring in now time!)

Once you master abdominal breathing in either a seated or lying position, try doing it when standing. If you train yourself to breathe in this manner, you'll find that it soon becomes second nature. Abdominal breathing expands the lungs, provides more efficient oxygenation of the cells of the body, and conditions you to experience a relaxation response when you consciously practice this technique.

Abdominal breathing is an important form of self-care. It is very important in yoga and other related relaxation techniques, and it can be used as a form of relaxation as preparation for sleep, meditation, or simple self-soothing. Abdominal breathing can be practiced at your desk, in bed, when walking, when resting, when singing, and even when you're in the middle of a conversation.

So, try assessing yourself to see if you breathe from your chest or from your abdomen. Try abdominal breathing as outlined above, and just notice if you feel more refreshed and more relaxed when you consciously choose to breathe in this way. If you want to learn more, do a Google search of "abdominal breathing" or "relaxation breathing", and see how this simple technique can transform your life---and your breath.

Laughter: The Best Medicine

Are you aware that the average child laughs 400 times per day, and the average adult laughs less than 15 times per day? So, what is it about adult life that causes such a dramatic reduction in laughter as we age? And what benefits of laughter are we missing out on if laughter is not a part of our daily life?

Research has clearly demonstrated that laughter has many physiological and psychological benefits. We all know that laughter feels good, but many people don't realize that the positive feeling that you experience from laughter is caused by a measurable increase in the level of endorphins and other "happiness hormones" circulating in your blood stream. Laughter can also lower blood pressure, tighten abdominal muscles, tone blood vessels, oxygenate your cells, and increase lung capacity. Scientific research has also shown that laughter increases the number of infection-fighting cells produced by your immune system, thus boosting your ability to fight infection and illness.

Norman Cousins was the first person to popularize the healing power of laughter with the publication of his famous book, Anatomy of an Illness in which he tells the story of how he taught himself to laugh in order to recover from a debilitating illness.

In 1995, Dr. Madan Kataria of Bombay (Mumbai), India founded Laughter Yoga, a social movement dedicated to bringing the health benefits of laughter to the world. Laughter Yoga uses yogic breathing, rhythmic clapping and specialized laughter exercises to elicit laughter from participants, and it is based on the scientifically proven notion that your body cannot tell the difference between authentic laughter and forced laughter, thus whether your laughter is forced or "real", you still receive all of the physiological benefits described above.

Whether you participate in a Laughter Yoga class, watch funny videos on YouTube, laugh together with friends, or simply sit and laugh in your car while waiting at a red light (give it a try!), laughter has many benefits for your mind and body. However you bring laughter into your life and the lives of others, it will surely improve your sense of well-being and that of those around you.

They say that laughter is the best medicine, and perhaps that old adage has now been proven to be true.

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Keith Carlson, RN
Public Health Nurse

Prostate Cancer and African Americans

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men in the United States.While it isn’t known why African-American men have higher rates of getting and dying from prostate cancer, CDC believes that what you know can help you. African-American men should know the facts about prostate cancer.

Some medical experts believe all men should be offered regular screening tests for prostate cancer. Other medical experts do not. Given the uncertainty about the benefit of screening, CDC supports informed decision making about screening. When a man understands the nature and risks of prostate cancer and the risks, benefits, and alternatives to screening, he can make a decision consistent with his preferences and values.

Is prostate cancer screening right for you? The decision is yours. To help African-American men understand both sides of the issue, CDC has developed a helpful guide specific for African-American men.

For further information about prostate cancer, please visit the CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control Website at www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate. You can also subscribe to be alerted by e-mail when our website offers new information on a cancer topic of interest to you.

Prostate Cancer Screening: A Decision Guide for African Americans www.cdc.gov/cancer/prostate/publications/aadecisionguide

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This article reproduced with the kind permission of the Centers for Disease Control.

Breaking Out of the Winter Rut

Tired of winter eating? Here's a link to a great blog post about lightening up your diet as Spring approaches. This article was posted on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health "Commonwealth Conversations Public Health Blog".

An Ounce of Prevention

Since President Obama's inauguration, he has frequently reminded us that preventive medicine should be a main goal of our health care system. Although billions of dollars are being spent to find cures for chronic diseases like diabetes, we must always remember that the prevention of disease is a very important aspect of medical practice and personal health. While genetics, environment and socioeconomics play a large role in determing our health, there are basic things we can all do when it comes to our own health and the prevention of chronic illness. And for those of us lucky enough to have health insurance, keeping up to date on such health practices is relatively easy, although not always convenient.

When it comes to preventing disease, the adage of eating right, exercising, sleeping enough and hydrating ourselves come to mind. We also have to make sure that we see our medical provider regularly, visit the dental hygienist every six months, and undergo the health maintenance examinations that are part and parcel of preventive health. For men, prostate exams, testicular exams and routine blood tests should be a matter of course. For women, PAP smears, mammograms, essential blood tests and breast exams should never be missed or postponed. And for either gender, a baseline colonoscopy is also strongly urged after the age of 50, and then as recommended by your medical provider.

Chronic preventable diseases like diabetes and hypertension comprise approximately 75% of the nation's economic health care burden. According to the CDC, chronic disease also contributes greatly to mortality statistics, accounting for "one-third of the years of potential life lost before age 65." Practicing prevention is key to lowering health care costs and living longer, healthier lives.

When considering your own health, think about how you have contributed to the prevention of chronic disease in your own life. If there are health maintenance appointments that you've postponed (like perhaps that pesky mammogram or colonoscopy that your doctor recommended), perhaps now is the time to reconsider and schedule that appointment, no matter the inconvenience.

An ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure, and if you have health insurance that covers most recommended health maintenance measures, think about taking full advantage and following through with those recommendations. Preventing disease is much easier than curing disease once it's happened, so think about what you can do to assure your own continued health for decades to come.

Employee Wellness in Amherst: Please Stay Tuned!

The Health Department is planning several new health and wellness initiatives for town employees which will be launched in early Spring. We are currently considering a number of programs in the interest of employee health, so please stay tuned to this blog for further details and announcements.

If any town employee has a suggestion regarding how the Health Department could best serve the health and wellness of town employees, please feel free to contact us with your ideas!