It’s that time of year! Time to celebrate the high school or college graduate in your life. Graduation is a big stepping stone to the next exciting, sometimes scary chapter in a young adult’s life. They are smart, they are educated, and in some ways they think they are invincible while at the same time, they are shaking in their shoes!

Your gift to them is a demonstration of how proud you are of their achievements, and how confident you are that they will succeed in the coming years.

But coming up with the perfect gift can be a real challenge, especially if cost is a factor in your decision. That’s when you need to get creative!

Here are 5 health and fitness ideas under $100 to get you started:

• Bluetooth Earbuds

• Spa Gift Card - Any fitness buff will appreciate a gift certificate to the spa, where she can wind down any way she chooses.

• Research the grad’s college campus to see what stores and restaurants are nearby. If the graduate bicycles to school or work, give a gift card to a nearby bike shop.

• Where Chefs Eat - New city? New restaurants to try. Give the grad some help finding tasty food to eat with this unique book or a book just about their new city or region. 

• Kettlebells - For resistance training right in the dorm room or new apartment.

If you have a bit more money to spend for your graduate’s gift, you can go high-tech with an iPad, bicycle, or noise-canceling headphones.

Whatever gift you give, give it with best wishes for the future, and congratulations for a job well done!

Vitamin C – What’s the big deal?

Often when you are coughing and sneezing, people you know will ask you if you are taking your Vitamin C. Maybe you are taking a Vitamin C supplement, maybe you’re not. What is the big deal about Vitamin C (also known as ascorbic acid) and how can you be certain you are getting “enough”?

Vitamin C is a water-soluble nutrient primarily found in certain fruits and vegetables. In the body, it acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect cells from the damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds formed when our bodies convert the food we eat into energy. People are also exposed to free radicals in the environment from cigarette smoke, air pollution, and ultraviolet light from the sun.

The body also needs vitamin C to make collagen, a protein required to help wounds heal. In addition, vitamin C improves the absorption of iron from plant-based foods and helps the immune system work properly to protect the body from disease.

That’s a pretty big deal! So where do you get it?

The best sources are certain fruits and vegetables. The best sources are citrus fruits such as oranges and grapefruit, also red and green peppers and kiwifruit. Other good sources of Vitamin C are broccoli, strawberries, cantaloupe, baked potatoes, and tomatoes. Some foods and beverages are fortified with Vitamin C so be sure to check the labels.

How can you be sure you are getting enough?

Most people in the United States get enough vitamin C from foods and beverages. However, certain groups of people are more likely than others to have trouble getting enough vitamin C: smokers or those exposed to secondhand smoke, infants under 1 year who are not fed breast milk or formula, people who eat a very limited variety of food, and people with certain medical conditions.

Vitamin C deficiency is rare in this country but people who get very limited amounts of Vitamin C for weeks are at risk for developing scurvy like the sailors of a century or two ago. Taking too much Vitamin C can cause problems too, so be sure to consult your doctor before taking high dose supplements.

By the way, taking a Vitamin C supplement AFTER your cold symptoms start is not shown to help at all. So if you are going to take a Vitamin C supplement, research shows you are more likely to have shorter colds if you get enough Vitamin C on a regular basis.

This information isn’t medical advice and should not take the place of a real conversation with your health care providers. Be sure to take your questions to your doctor, registered dietitian, or pharmacist and ask them what is best for you and your overall health.

Next Monday, May 27, 2013, is Memorial Day. The first observances were within a few years after the end of the Civil War in the late 1860’s, although it wasn’t actually proclaimed as a national holiday until 1971 by an Act of Congress. In 1966 President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed Waterloo NY as the birthplace of Memorial Day where the first official celebration took place on May 5, 1866.

Memorial Day weekend is often the time for barbecues, a time when family and friends get together to socialize and enjoy food and fun. But while we are out having a good time, let’s remember the real meaning of this holiday.

Let’s honor our military veterans who are now, and have through the centuries, defending our country and our freedom. Men and women who have given their all so that we can continue to enjoy the life and liberty we often take for granted.

During your barbecue, please stop and join the rest of the country to pay tribute to the U.S. men and women who died during military service by observing a minute of silence at 3:00 PM, local time.

If you are a veteran, thank you. If you know a veteran, please thank them. If you have lost a loved one who was a veteran, our condolences and our thanks. From the bottom of our hearts.

Pizza is a staple in our American diet. There’s a pizza joint on nearly every corner. In fact, according to Your Guide to Pizza, pizzerias comprise almost eight percent of all U.S. restaurants. Yes, 8%. Wow.

That makes pizza really easy to get, and really tempting to eat often. After all, it’s fast, convenient, and it smells SO good!  In fact, in the U.S., there are about 350 slices of pizza eaten each second and over 3 billion pizzas sold every year.

But, oh the guilt. There are actually plenty of options when you order pizza to make it more healthy. For example, vegetarian pizzas are better for you than a meat-lover’s pizza, although women are twice as likely as men to order vegetarian.

Here are a few other ways to have your pizza and keep your health in mind:

• Order it with less cheese, or better yet, no cheese at all. You’ll be surprised at how good it tastes.
• Moderation. Eat 1 or 2 slices instead of 3 or 4. Savor it.  
• Limit the fat. Be mindful with the toppings you order. Limit the meat, fried toppings, and oily toppings like olives, added cheese, eggplant (usually soaked or fried in oil).
• Make it a treat. Eating pizza less often helps you appreciate it more.

But on May 18th, let’s celebrate this great American tradition! Buon appetito!

Think of all the work that mothers do in raising their children. Mothers need to be celebrated!

In the late 1800’s Anna Jarvis was born the 9th of 11 children to a dedicated, hard-working mother who was very active in working to improve the health of people in her community. Jarvis’s mother also organized a Mother’s Friendship event in her community to bring confederate and union soldiers together for a peaceful celebration.

Growing up, Anna had often heard her mother say she wished someone would create a day honoring mothers. After her mother passed away, Anna worked hard to promote the creation of Mother’s Day to be honored on the anniversary of her mother’s death. Because of her hard work, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed May 9, 1914, the first Mother's Day.

Now, all around the world in many cultures, children honor their mothers on that day. What are your plans to honor the mothers (mothers, grandmothers, daughters, aunts, sisters, stepmothers, etc.) in your life this year? Flowers, brunch, gifts, pampering - moms deserve it!

Want to learn more about Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day? Here’s the FULL STORY.

Ever picked your own tomato from your garden? Or cut your own fresh herbs to add to the supper you are cooking? If you haven’t you are missing out on one of the great natural rewards in life.

Growing your own vegetables or herbs can be fun, good exercise, cost-saving, and rewarding at the dinner table. All good reasons to consider gardening, if you aren’t already doing it.

A vegetable garden doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking. You can, of course, go the traditional route and till up an area of your yard. The next easiest option is to build a raised bed garden (be sure you don’t use treated lumber here). If you just want to dip your toes in the water, you can easily plant a pot or two for your deck or patio.

Whatever garden type you choose, plan well. Do some reading so you learn how to maximize the space you have to grow healthy, productive plants that do well where you live. Overcrowding your plants can cause disease and make way for terrible disappointments at harvest time.

Here are a few resources to get you started:

 
• FARMER'S ALMANAC
• COMMUNITY GARDEN GUIDE
• THE PEOPLE'S GARDEN GARDENING RESOURCES

One easy (large) pot to grow would contain a cherry tomato plant, a basil plant, and a marigold. These three plants work well together, and grow better together than separately. Marigolds grown with tomatoes help keep the tomato-destroying insects away. You’ll need a good strong stake and tie system to keep the cherry tomato plant upright for better yield. Place it in a sunny location, water well, and fertilize weekly.

That first juicy tomato of the season...mmm, mmm! Enjoy!