​July is National Parks and Recreation Month, and we can all celebrate the many health benefits of outdoor parks and recreation activities. National Parks and Recreation Month highlights the role local parks and recreation activities play in keeping our community strong and healthy. During the month of July, we encourage people of all ages to get active outdoors!
 
Getting outdoors does not only benefit you physically, but mentally as well! For people of all ages, physical activity can reduce the chances of becoming obese. Being outside increases levels of Vitamin D, and can help protect children from future chronic diseases and health problems such as heart disease and diabetes, while also improving vision. Access to safe parks allows children to be more physically active— and active kids perform better in school. Environment-based learning allows children increases their performance on critical thinking tests. Nature allows for positive social interactions among children, as well as adults, and improves community relations.
 
Together we can get our community to all the great programs that our public parks and recreational facilities offer. Challenge your friends and family members to enjoy the outdoors and get active this month! There are so many ways to enjoy all that your local parks offer.
 
For more information on the benefits of being active outdoors and learn more ways to get active outdoors, visit National Wildlife Federation Website and American Heart Association Website.

It’s summertime and that means going outside and getting activity with friends and family members! Whether its exploring your local National Park, swimming, or even taking a walk around your neighborhood, now is the time to get outdoors! June is Great Outdoors Month, and California is rich with National Parks to discover. On the National Park website, locate the National Park nearest you and plan a trip with your loved ones! While summertime is a great time to relax and have fun, make sure to keep yourself safe!
 
Heat Safety Tips:
 
Whether you are outside or inside, extreme heat can be dangerous and high levels of humidity can make even the most relaxing of days unbearable. Make sure to stay safe when you are outside by wearing sunscreen and staying in the shade when possible. Keep hydrated and know the signs of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Always keep a bottle of water or other healthy refreshments nearby! Hot cars can be deadly too, when it is warm outside, the temperature in the car can rise quickly and lead to deadly results.
 
Water Safety Tips:
 
Swimming in the pool, or your local river, can be a fun way to keep cool during the sizzling summer months! Avoid getting water in your mouth, and keep an eye on children playing in the water. Never swim alone or in unsupervised locations, make sure to always swim with another family member or friends. Maintain cleanliness standards in pools and rinse off before and after getting in to stay clean and healthy while preventing the spread of disease. Never drink alcohol before or after swimming, especially when operating heavy machinery such as boats or jet-skis—accidents can sometimes occur.
 
Food Safety Tips:
 
Grilling is an excellent way to get outside and show everyone your culinary prowess! Make sure to store raw meat, fruits and vegetables at the appropriate temperature and do not let them sit out in room temperature for longer than two hours. Be sure to wash the food and your hands thoroughly before cooking to avoid germs. Make sure to avoid cross contamination and do not use the same utensils for fruits and vegetables. Throughout the day, the ice in coolers may melt, make sure to bring extra ice and keep watch on temperature of the foods you are storing.
 
While following these guidelines, be sure to have fun and spend time with family and friends! For more information about summer safety tips, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website or the American Red Cross website. For some fun summer ideas for families, visit Care.com.

​Every year on May 31st the World Health Organization (WHO) sponsors World No Tobacco Day. Since 1987, World No Tobacco Day has been celebrated to inform the public of the threat the tobacco industry poses to the development of countries and propose measures that the government and public should take to promote health through confronting the global tobacco crisis. The theme this year is “Tobacco—a threat to development”. The WHO goals for World No Tobacco Day are:

• Highlight the links between the use of tobacco products, tobacco control and sustainable development.
• Encourage countries to include tobacco control in their national responses to 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
• Support Member States and civil society to combat tobacco industry interference in political processes, in turn leading to stronger national tobacco control action.
• Encourage broader public and partner participation in national, regional and global efforts to develop and implement development strategies and plans and achieve goals that prioritize action on tobacco control.
• Demonstrate how individuals can contribute to making a sustainable, tobacco-free world, either by committing to never taking up tobacco products, or by quitting the habit.

 
Even though World No Tobacco Day is just one day, you can do something every day to prevent and reduce the harm of tobacco in your family and in your community. Here are some easy ways to do it:

• Make sure your family knows the risk of tobacco and talk to your children and teens about the harms of smoke.
• Promote smoke-free environments in your community to reduce secondhand smoke.
• Talk to supervisors and managers of multi-unit housing complexes to try to implement smoke-free policies in your complex.
• Celebrate other tobacco-related awareness days and events such as National Kick Butts Day and Lung Cancer Awareness Month.
• If you are a current smoker, and want to quit, visit websites like smokefree.gov to learn how to quit and stay smoke free today!

 
To learn more about the health effects of tobacco usage, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. For more information about World No Tobacco Day and tobacco-free events and news, like the World Health Organization (WHO) on Facebook or follow them on Twitter @WHO. 

Televisions, computers, I-pads, cell phones, and digital entertainment have increasingly become America’s new favorite pastime. Every year, we celebrate Screen-Free Week to try to unplug from digital entertainment and spend more time interacting with the world around us. This May 1st through may 7th, partner up with friends and family to try to set down your electronics, and try to find new ways to interact with each other, and the world outside. Celebrating Screen-Free Week does not mean giving up electronic devices at work and at school, bur during free time, try to find ways to leave them behind in favor of quality time with your loved ones. Screen-Free Week is not important because it means quality time with your loved ones, but it also means improving your health. Excessive screen-time can often lead to inactivity, especially in children. It is also linked to poor school performance, childhood obesity, and attention problems. To celebrate Screen-Free Week, go to an event  near you! If there is not an even close by, organize  one, and encourage your community to get out and celebrate Screen-Free Week!
For tips and activities to do while celebrating Screen-Free Week, visit these websites:

• 7 Parent Tested Tips to Unplug
• 101 Screen-Free Activities
• Who Needs Screens: 70 ideas of Family Fun
• Limit screen time for healthier kids
• Screen-free Ideas for Teachers

​Follow the Screen-Free Week blog and visit the Screen-Free Week Facebook to learn more about this week and why its important!

 
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As the weather is heating up, now is the time to get outside and get active. Not only is being outdoors a fun way to spend time with your loved ones, but it is shown to improve your health. Children need at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day to stay healthy, and adults only need 30! Make goals with your friends and family to go outside and get your recommended amount of physical activity every day! This week, we are celebrating National Park Week, and it is the perfect time to get a group together to visit your local National Park! Check out these websites to learn more about how you can get active and celebrate nature with your loved ones this month:

• April 15-23 is National Park Week, and you can visit any National Park for free this weekend from the 22nd to the 23rd.
• April 22 is Earth Day! This Earth Day, get outside and create your own act of green by planting a tree or your own garden.
•   April 23rd is ParkRx Day! See what parks near you are celebrating and learn how being in nature can improve your health

Once National Park Week ends, it does not mean your journey to becoming more physically active has to end too! There are many activities you can participate in with your family and friends to get outside and get moving:

• Go on a bike ride. Check out this website to locate bike trails near you!
• Take a walk. Whether it is to your local park or down your street, walking is a good way to get active and spend time with the ones you love.
• Go swimming. As it gets hotter, swimming is a fun and easy way to get moving.
• Start a pick up game with friends. No matter your skill level, there’s no better way to get out of the house and have a good time.

For other ideas on how to be more physically active and improve your health, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Heart Association, or  MyPlate websites!

March is National Nutrition Month! This year’s theme is “Put Your Best Fork Forward.” Learning to eat right is easy, and it starts with understanding the Nutrition Facts Labels on our food products! Nutrition Facts Label were added to food products in an effort to promote healthy diets. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration website offers an easy step by step process to understand exactly what Nutrition Facts Labels are telling you:

1. Serving Size: Make sure that you first look at the serving size and understand that there can be more than one serving inside each package. With more servings, the higher amount of calories, fats, and other nutrients you are consuming.
2. Calories: The amount of calories in each serving measures the amount of energy you get from every serving of the food you consume. With each serving you consume, the number of calories increase. Many Americans consume more calories than they need each day, leading to overweight and obesity. The General Guide to Calories states that 40 calories is low, 100 is moderate, and 400+ is high. This Guide is based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
3. Nutrients: Make sure to balance the amount of nutrients you eat. You want to limit the amount of fat (saturated and trans), cholesterol and sodium you consume. Eating too much of these nutrients can increase the risk of chronic disease such as heart disease and cancer. Health experts especially recommend keeping your intake of saturated and trans fat and cholesterol as low as possible. Most Americans do not consume enough dietary fiber, vitamin A and C, calcium and iron. These nutrients can improve health and reduce the risks of some diseases.
4. Percent Daily Values: The Daily Values are recommendations from public health experts based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Even if you consume more or less than 2,000 calories each day, you can use them as a reference to understand what is in your food.  The percent daily value is based on a 2,000 calorie diet and is listed on the right side next to each nutrient.
5. Footnote: The footnote at the bottom of the Nutrition Facts Label lists the recommendations of health experts on how much of each nutrient should be consumed daily based on a 2,000 calorie diet. If the Nutrition Facts Label is small, the full footnote does not appear, but it is otherwise the same on all food packages. The Daily Values listed next to each nutrient on the food package show the percentage of that nutrient in the food product based on the recommendations seen in the footnotes.

 
To learn more about the Nutrition Facts label, visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website for educational videos. To learn more about what else you can do to participate in National Nutrition Month, visit eatright.org.  

​​Did you know about 2,200 Americans die each day from cardiovascular diseases? That’s about one every 40 seconds. Shockingly, cardiovascular diseases claim more lives than all forms of cancer combined.
February was American Heart Month, and it is never too late teach your family and friends that cardiovascular disease can often be prevented by making healthy choices and properly managing their existing health conditions.
 
You can all work hard to live healthy through cooking fun and healthy meals with your family, learning more about physical activity opportunities, and promoting smoke-free environments. As part of these efforts, you can proudly participate in American Heart Month, every month. Take this opportunity to raise awareness about heart disease and increase knowledge about prevention!
 
Sharing this information is important because about 80% of cardiovascular disease can be prevented by taking control and following everyday healthy living steps that include:

• not smoking
• physical activity
• good nutrition
• maintaining healthy weight
• controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels

 
For more information about cardiovascular disease and to stay on top of heart health and other health news, follow us on Twitter @UCMHealthComm, and like UC Merced Communication, Culture, and Health Research Lab on Facebook.

By Katie Johnson

Schools throughout Merced County are increasingly opening their facilities for the use of local residents, often in partnership with community organizations. By opening their fields, tracks, basketball courts or gymnasiums, schools are able to provide much-needed opportunities for neighborhood residents to lead active lives. Read the success story below to learn more about how one neighborhood group in South Merced has worked to promote open use at Tenaya Middle School.

by Alex Lemon

​Access to health information and resources is a vital part of building a healthy community. Sometimes, locating health resources can be a struggle that requires wading through a maze of information. But Mountain Valley 2-1-1 is a service that links the community of Merced County with local health agencies and information. While many people look to 2-1-1 for resources to help with housing and utility costs, you can also use the service to learn more about how to live a healthy lifestyle and discover how organizations are working to make Merced County a healthier place! By dialing 2-1-1 (or 844-287-7400 on a mobile phone), you will reach a specialist who can tell you about a variety of resources that are available in your community, based on your interests or needs. On the Mountain Valley 2-1-1 website, you can browse all of the same information quickly and efficiently. Search for programs, classes, events and information from dozens of Merced County organizations at your convenience.
 
On the website, resources are sorted into categories to make navigation as simple as possible. These categories range from food and transportation services, to entrepreneurial services, to drought assistance and more. To learn more about health, wellness, and living a healthy lifestyle in Merced County, visit the lifestyles page, which has resources on chronic disease management workshops, nutrition assistance, smoking cessation, even yoga classes and more! Also visit the Community Activities page where you can find information on local clubs, centers for kids and teens, as well as zoos and other activities you can enjoy with friends and family.
 
And don’t miss the Community Events Calendar, which helps keep track of a whole month of activities. You can find information on events for family and friends, like group classes, farmers’ markets and the local Bookmobile’s schedule. Community residents and agencies can also submit events to the calendar and help get the word out about all the different activities happening in the community.
 
Mountain Valley 2-1-1 is a big step in our journey to creating a healthier community! To learn more about the resources available to you, visit http://mountainvalley211.org today.

The Communication, Culture, and Health Research Lab at UC Merced is seeking a Sustainability Science Communication Intern for the Spring 2017 semester. This is a paid internship requiring a minimum commitment of 8 hours/week for 10-14 weeks. The intern will contribute to a project that aims to improve the quantity and quality of health information available to Merced County residents. The ideal candidate will have a strong scientific background (engineering, pre-med, or biology majors are especially invited to apply), outstanding written communication skills, and a passion for sustainability and public health. The intern will be expected to translate technical scientific concepts into clear prose. 

Opportunities for professional development will be integrated with the job duties. Read the entire job descrition and apply on CatLink. Please help spread the word, and apply as soon as possible (deadline extended - apply no later than Thursday, 12/29)!