= RACE FOR THE CURE
By Henry A. Alvarez, III
SAHA joined in the 24th anniversary celebration of the Susan G. Komen “Race for the Cure” last Saturday. This type of employee participation is something that I have come to expect from our employees here at SAHA. We have very hard working employees and knowing that there are survivors at our own agency makes this experience even more exceptional.
SAHA’s participation in the “Race for the Cure” is another step our community outreach following on the heels of events such as the House of Jazz music festival, the Ella Austin Graffiti Clean-up, and the recent grand opening of its Café 818. I look forward to our employees participating in even more events like this in the near future.
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= 9 FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
How can I possibly eat nine fruits & vegetables a day?
It used to be “five a day” and then it was seven. Now the government is recommending that you eat nine servings of fruits and vegetables every day.
Fruits and vegetables can do more than help you fit into your “skinny jeans”. They’re also full of antioxidants-compounds that prevent disease, boost your brainpower, and even reduce the signs of aging.
Think in Bright Colors
When choosing foods, go for color. Colorful foods are generally packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other healthy compounds. For example:
8 Deep reds and pinks contain an antioxidant called lycopene, which some researchers believe fights heart disease and some cancers. You get lycopene from tomatoes, grapefruit, and watermelon.
8 Greens are rich in disease-fighting phytochemicals, as well as fiber, and essential vitamins. Great greens include broccoli, spinach, and leafy lettuces.
8 Oranges and yellows have lots of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that helps boost your immune system. Get orange goodness from citrus, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Yellow foods like pineapple and corn also deliver lots of nutrition.
8 Blues and purples are rich in antioxidants, vitamin C, and fiber. Ounce for ounce, blueberries contain more disease-fighting, age-proofing substances than practically any other fruit or vegetable.
8 Like greens, whites from the onion family contain phytochemicals that may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Besides onions, this group includes garlic, chives, scallions, and leeks.
Some breakfast ideas to try:
8 Yogurt with fresh fruit
8 Cereal with blueberries or strawberries
8 Trail mix with dried fruit
8 An omelet with spinach, mushrooms and chopped tomatoes
8 Pineapple with low-fat cottage cheese
Some smart snack ideas:
8 Mini carrots
8 Cherry tomatoes
8 Sliced vegetables with salsa or yogurt dip
8 Raisins or other dried fruit
8 Prepackaged fruit cups – in fruit juice, not heavy syrup
8 Single-serve applesauce
Mix up your salads. Each of these options will help you load up on fruits and vegetables:
8 Spinach with orange wedges, red onion, and balsamic vinaigrette
8 Leafy romaine with apples, walnuts, a little crumbled blue cheese and red wine vinegar
8 Iceberg lettuce with grilled chicken, corn, tomatoes, low-fat cheese, and salsa
8 Mixed greens with strawberries, sunflower seeds, and a citrus vinaigrette.
8 Cucumbers, green peppers, tomatoes, and a few black olives with Greek dressing
Slip vegetables into your main dish.
For example:
8 Stir fry meats with broccoli, carrots, and mushrooms
8 Pile spinach, tomatoes, and peppers on your pizza
8 Mix vegetables into your pasta, noodles, or rice
8 Fill an omelet with spinach, mushrooms, and peppers
8 Top fish with salsa, corn, or even fruity toppings like mango chutney
8 Add frozen chopped spinach to make anything “Florentine style”
8 Make a quick soup by adding chopped meat and vegetables to canned broth
Serve it on the side. Try introducing some of these options:
8 Hummus, a dip made with fiber-rich chick peas
Spinach dip made with low-fat sour cream, low-fat mayo, and herbs
8 Salsa with corn
8 Baked beans or bean salad
8 Roasted sweet potatoes
8 Spaghetti squash with tomatoes and garlic
And for the big finish, don’t forget fruit when it’s time for dessert. Some ideas to try:
8 Frozen fruit pops made with 100 percent juice
8 Fresh fruit skewers with yogurt dip
8 Baked apples sprinkled with cinnamon
8 Berries – what better excuse to eat chocolate-
Covered strawberries?
Bottom line:To reduce your risk of cancer, heart problems, and other diseases, load up on fruits and vegetables. Getting nine a day won’t give you nine lives, but it may help you get more from the one you have!
Source: Humana.com |
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= 2008 NAHRO LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE
Journey of Purpose in Changing Times
SAHA Senior staff and members of the Board of Commissioners spent some time in Washington, D.C. at the 2008 NAHRO legislative conference March 31- April 2.
This year's conference theme, Journey of Purpose, was selected to underscore the essential role that we play in our communities, as well as to reinforce how critical our role will continue to be during this year of transition and beyond.
In addition to the plenary sessions, break-outs and networking opportunities provided, attendees made time available for the critically-important task of educating and informing decision makers on Capitol Hill and others in Washington.
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= CAFFEINE'S UPS AND DOWNS
The low down of the up high
Coffee and tea are modern workplace staples. Many companies provide them free to employees. But both deliver doses of caffeine – coffee generally twice as much as tea – and caffeine has been implicated in a number of health problems over the years, including heart disease and cancer. As you watch workers gulp cup after cup, should you be concerned?
Here are the facts:
HOW CAFFEINE HELPS
Gently jolts. Caffeine simulates the central nervous system, helping employees stay more alert, energetic and productive. It’s a mood lifter.Pumps up pain relief. Caffeine can boost the pain-killing effects of over-the-counter pain relievers, including aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen and ketoprofen.Defends against disease – maybe. Recent studies suggest that caffeine may help protect against type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, gallstones, and liver damage.
HOW CAFFEINE MIGHT HURT
Jump-starts – the jitters. Heavy daily use of caffeine is linked with restlessness, anxiety, irritability, muscle tremors, sleeplessness, and abnormal heart rhythms. Heavy and even moderate use can lead to withdrawal headaches if caffeine is cut back suddenly.
Bathroom breaks. Caffeine affects the kidneys, increasing urination, which can lead to repeated trips to the restroom and thus more interruptions.
Possible pregnancy problems. New research published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology found that pregnant women who drink more than 2-3 cups of coffee per day double their risk of miscarriage.
Caffeine can also negatively interact with some medications, including certain antibiotics and asthma drugs.
The bottom line: For many people, light to moderate caffeine consumption should pose no health risk. However, irritability, headaches, and daytime fatigue all can be signs of too much caffeine. Anyone looking to cut back should taper off gradually over weeks and even months.
Source: Oakstone Wellness Publishing
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= DIVERSITY TRAINING
April Training
Figures from the most recent U.S. census show that almost a third of the workforce is currently made up of minorities, more than 10% is made up of people aged 55 or over, and almost half is made up of women.
The Census Bureau estimates that in 2020 minorities will make up over 40% of the workforce, and older workers will account for a larger percentage. How are we diverse at the San Antonio Housing Authority? All meetings will be held at Central Office in the boardroom, BE SURE TO CHECK THE DESKTOP FOR TIMES AND DATES.
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