Before throwing out the meat and seeds of a carved Halloween pumpkin chew on this:
Pumpkin is an excellent source of vitamins A and C and potassium, and the seeds are high in fiber, vitamin B12 and polyunsaturated fatty acids, one of the so-called good fats.
"The flesh of pumpkin and the seeds are abundant in many essential nutrients," says Lona Sandon, a registered dietitian at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "Pumpkins are low in fat, calories and are loaded with vitamins."
If you are planning to use fresh pumpkin for baking, Sandon says, choose smaller, blemish- and bruise-free pumpkins. Smaller pumpkins have softer and tastier meat. To maintain freshness, pumpkins should be stored in a cool, dry place until ready to use.
And don't forget to oven roast the pumpkin seeds. They are ideal as snacks or as a salad topping.
Check out our Purely Pumpkin Recipe Collection!
(10-20-09)
Fall's brilliant colors are in full bloom. With this season comes a variety of hearty fruits and vegetables that are great for your health, such as apples and pumpkins. While they may be great for fall activities like bobbing for apples or carving pumpkins,
Chicagohealers.com practitioners Dr. Helen Lee and Dr. Melody Hart point out the many health benefits of these two power foods.
"Fresh fruits and vegetables will always provide the most nutrients and natural enzymes that the body can use more readily, so it is important to take advantage of the health benefits of apples and pumpkins while they are in season," says Dr. Helen Lee.
Here is a breakdown of the benefits of apples and pumpkins just in time for their peak season:
According to Dr. Lee, pumpkins contain the following benefits:
Nutrient-rich:
Provide vitamin C and E, iron, zinc, magnesium and potassium, which support the health of organs such as kidneys, bladder and prostate.
Contain both beta and alpha carotenoids, which are antioxidants that help prevent cell damage.
Supply lutein, which supports healthy eyes.
Beneficial to Health:
Aid in ridding the body of parasites and other unwelcomed digestive inhabitants.
Contain healthy essential fatty acid oils.
High in protein; 1 ounce of seeds provides about 7 grams.
Easy Ways to Incorporate in Diet:
A handful of raw pumpkin seeds as a snack or mixed with trail mix, or on top of cereal.
Pumpkin seed butter spread on toast.
Pumpkin pie/desserts/pancakes/waffles.
Pumpkin baked or browned with spices in risotto, chili, rice or spaghetti.
According to Dr. Hart, apples are important in the diet for the following reasons:
Quintessential for Health:
Low in fat and calories.
Enzyme-rich energy food, which helps break down and digest other foods.
Reduce risk of colds and flu.
Improve ability of intestinal muscles to move waste through and help lower cholesterol levels.
Regulate Blood Sugar:
Help prevent hypoglycemia and diabetes.
Keep blood glucose levels up to help feel full longer.
Packed with Nutrients:
Pectin fiber binds and helps eliminate gut toxins, keeping the GI tract healthy and act as a natural stimulant (green apples contain more pectin).
Great source of vitamin A carotenes for antioxidant activity, the flavonoid quercitin as well as vitamin C.
Help Fight Disease:
Bone protection.
Asthma relief.
Alzheimer's prevention.
Cancer prevention (lung, breast, colon and liver cancers).
Diabetes management.
Lower cholesterol.
Learn more by reading Say Ahhh-ples: The Appeal of Apples for First-time Eaters and Perfect Pumpkin: This Orange Vegetable Is a Great Option for Babies and Toddlers.
(10-20-09)
Breast cancer is predicted to kill more than 40,000 U.S. women this year, while 192,000 more will be diagnosed with the disease. With early detection, however, nearly 90 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer will live at least five years.
The keys to early detection are getting an annual mammogram combined with regular self-exams of the breasts, says Dr. Phil Evans, associate vice president for imaging services at UT Southwestern Medical Center. "We recommend annual mammograms beginning at age 40," Dr Evans says. "For high-risk groups, including women who have a first-degree relative with breast cancer or women who had chest X-rays for Hodgkin's disease when they were younger, we recommend they consult with their doctor to determine if they need to start earlier."
Women whose mothers had breast cancer before they were 40 years old should start getting regular mammograms at age 30, Dr. Evans says.
(10-06-09)
The first swine flu vaccinations will start to arrive this week in some parts of the country. Around 600,000 doses of FluMist, a vaccine that is squirted into the nose, will be distributed between 21 states and four larger cities, with more following later in the week. The larger shipments of the vaccine (around 40 million) will start shipping the second week of October.
This year, most people will need two different shots for influenza; one for the "normal" flu and one for H1N1, or the swine flu. Children under the age of 10 will need two doses of H1N1.
Learn more by reading Swine Flu and Pregnancy: How Does the Influenza H1N1 Strain Affect Mom-to-be? and Swine Flu and Babies: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment for the Swine Flu. (10-06-09)
Stock up on birthday candles! A majority of babies born in this century will live to see their 100th birthday, according to an article in the journal
Lancet. The researchers say that people in rich, developed countries are living about three decades longer than before.
(10-06-09)
Women in the national Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) can now buy vegetables, fruits, whole grains and breads, and other proteins like canned beans, with their vouchers. Until now, the vouchers could only be used for cereals, dried beans, peanut butter, milk, cheese, eggs and juice. The new regulations does reduce the amount of cheese, milk and eggs that can be purchased, and requires the participant to buy 1 percent or fat-free milk if they have a child over 2 years of age. WIC is a program for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and moms with children up to age 5 considered low income.
(10-06-09)
Many people who have died from 2009 H1N1 influenza in the United States had co-infections with a common bacteria (
Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus), which likely contributed to their death, according to a report published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC)
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. CDC is reminding people of the importance of being vaccinated against this common bacterium.
"Our influenza season is off to a fast start and unfortunately there will be more cases of bacterial infections in people suffering from influenza," says CDC Epidemiologist Dr. Matthew Moore. "It's really important for people, especially those at high risk for the serious complications from influenza, to check with their provider when they get their influenza vaccine about being vaccinated against pneumococcus."
The CDC report included an analysis of specimens taken from 77 fatal cases of 2009 H1N1. Bacterial co-infections, including some caused by Streptococcus pneumonia, were noted in about a third of those cases. The following are CDC's recommendations for vaccination against Streptococcus pneumonia:
All children under 5 years of age should receive pneumococcal conjugate vaccine according to current recommendations.
In addition, the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) should be administered to all persons 2 to 64 years with high-risk conditions and everyone 65 years and older.
The entire MMWR report can be found at www.cdc.gov/mmwr.
Read the following for more information:
Pregnant Women Urged to Get Swine Flu Vaccine
Swine Flu and Pregnancy: How Does the Influenza H1N1 Strain Affect Mom-to-be?
Swine Flu and Babies: Symptoms, Prevention and Treatment for the Swine Flu
Swine Flu Vaccine: One Shot or Two? (10-06-09)
Most high school students are not getting their recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The government agency reports that less than 10 percent eat enough veggies and fruit each day. Thirteen percent do get at least three servings of vegetables a day, and only 32 percent get two servings of fruit. Less than one student in 10 got enough combined.
(9-29-09)
In recognition of national ADHD Awareness Day, Dancing with the Stars performer and professional dancer Karina Smirnoff is adding her voice to the growing attention about adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) by sharing her personal experiences for the first time and advocating for others to seek evaluation and appropriate treatment.
Smirnoff is partnering with Shire plc , the global specialty biopharmaceutical company and a leader in ADHD treatment, in an effort to highlight the impact of ADHD on adults at work, at home and in social settings, and to educate people that ADHD symptom management is possible.
"As a professional dancer, I've become known for my moves and my career accomplishments, but most people don't know about another part of my life – I'm an adult with ADHD," says Smirnoff.
Smirnoff has struggled with the ADHD symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity throughout her life. She was diagnosed after a friend recognized how her symptoms were impacting her life, and urged her to see a doctor. With the hope that other adults with ADHD will benefit from her story, she is speaking out about her experiences with ADHD to reinforce that ADHD is a real, treatable medical disorder.
"My parents tried anything and everything just to address my inattention and provide an outlet for my hyperactivity," says Smirnoff. "They enrolled me in activities that held my interest like figure skating, ballet, gymnastics and playing the piano. Throughout my life, I have found ways to cope with my symptoms, because I thought they were just part of who I am."
"After speaking with my doctor and getting diagnosed with ADHD, I realized that having tools – such as medication and organizational strategies – would help manage my symptoms," says Smirnoff. "In addition to recommending strategies, such as taking breaks during rehearsals, my doctor prescribed Vyvanse (lisdexamfetamine dimesylate) Capsules CII, as part of my ADHD treatment plan. Like most adults, my schedule is very busy. My day is filled with 10-hour dance rehearsals for my television show, teaching choreography, dancing in shows and constant travel. With improvement in my ADHD symptoms, I can focus on finishing what I start."
"My doctor did let me know about the possible side effects of Vyvanse, including possible heart problems, as well as more commonly associated side effects including decreased appetite, difficulty falling asleep and dry mouth," says Smirnoff. "Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. Because everyone is different, work with your doctor to find a treatment plan, which may include educational approaches, psychological or behavioral modification and/or medication, that may be right for you."
To learn more about Karina Smirnoff's story, visit www.vyvanseadult.com.
(9-22-09)
Chlorine is effective at killing pathogens in swimming pools, but it also irritates the skin, eyes and upper respiratory tract of swimmers, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. Recent research has found swimming in outdoor or indoor chlorinated pools can increase asthma risks. The study found that children who swim in chlorinated pools have a higher risk of asthma, as well as other allergic diseases such as hay fever and allergic rhinitis.
Researchers in Belgium compared the health of adolescents who swim in chlorinated pools to adolescents who swim in pools sanitized with a concentration of copper and silver. In children with allergic sensitivities (atopy), exposure to chlorinated pools significantly increased the prevalence of asthma and respiratory allergies.
Study authors suggest the chlorine-based oxidants in the water or just above the water cause changes in the airway and promote the development of allergic diseases. The findings reinforce the need for further research and to enforce regulations on the level of these chemicals in the water and air of swimming pools.
(9-22-09)
See parents helping parents in action! 
