By:Robert Remler / Health Editor
Combining good nutrition and fitness into everyday life can help people improve their lifestyle, according to the American Dietetic Association (ADA).
Incorporating fitness into daily activities will help build lifelong health and reduce stress, the ADA says. Its recommendation is supported by The Medical Society of the State of New York, which suggests that adults participate in 30 minutes or more of physical activity daily.
A sound nutritional plan should include knowing when and how to snack, according to the ADA, which notes that 75 percent of men and women eat at least one snack a day.
A small amount of food eaten two or three hours before mealtime won't ruin a person's appetite and can stop hunger pangs, so that a person is less likely to overeat at the next meal.
Although it is often thought that a late dinner is more likely to cause weight gain, The state medical society said that the clock really does not make the difference.
Evidence does suggest, however, that eating at regular mealtimes, including breakfast, reduces fat intake and minimizes impulsive snacking. The result is an intake of fewer calories for the day, said the society.
"Staying up late at night may lead to extra snacking, which can increase the total caloric intake. Weight gain would then occur, not because of when you ate, but rather how much you ate."
The ADA recommends that people should snack when they are hungry, eat snacks well ahead of mealtime, make snacking a conscious and planned activity and match snack calories to appropriate activity levels.
Reduce stroke risk
Eating more fish is associated with reducing the risk of strokes among middle-aged women, according to a study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The risk is greatly reduced for women not taking aspirin regularly, the study also reports.
The study followed almost 80,000 women for 14 years.
After taking into account age, smoking and other cardiovascular risk factors, women who ate fish one to three times per month had a 7 percent lower risk than those who ate fish less than once per month. Women who ate fish once a week had a 22 percent risk reduction, and those who ate fish two to four times per week had a 27 percent lower risk. The greatest risk reduction, 52 percent, occurred among women who ate fish five or more times per week.
Franklin Hospital happenings
Franklin Hospital Medical Center will host a Diabetes Support
Group meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 9. 'Diet Drinks. Yes or No?' will be the focus of the group's discussion. For information, call (516) 256-6199.
The medical center's Pastoral Care Committee will have its annual conference at 9 a.m. Wednesday, April 18. Call (516) 256-6050 to register.
Winthrop-University workshops
A free workshop for parents, about "Child Passenger Safety," will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, at Winthrop-University Hospital's Community Outreach Center, 101 Mineola Blvd., Mineola. For information and to register, call 1-877-559-KIDS.
A "Safe and Healthy Kids" workshop is planned for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, and will focus on preventing and managing child emergencies. Admission is free, but seating is limited. For information and to reserve a seat, call 1-877-559-KIDS.
Nassau University Medical Center
Alcoholism screening will be done at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 5. The screening is free of charge and available to anyone who has questions about alcoholism. The center will also offer an educational presentation, a self-assessment survey and referrals for treatment. No appointment is necessary. For more information, call (516) 572-4847.
A breast cancer support group will meet in the center at 1 p.m. Friday, April 6. To register, call (516) 572-8891.
A 'Look Good, Feel Better' program for oncology patients is set for 1 p.m. Monday, April 16. The program will be repeated monthly through December. Registration is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Call (516) 572-0119.
Other activities, meetings
(B) The American Liver Foundation (UB) is sponsoring a fundraising walk at 9:15 a.m. Sunday, April 29. The 3.1-mile walk will start and finish on the Jones Beach Boardwalk. To request a sponsor sign-up sheet and register, call (212) 943-1059 ext. 15 or 631-424-2555 ext. 15. ... (B) Hillside Hospital(UB), of the North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System, is sponsoring programs that recognize April as National Stress Awareness month. For information, call (718) 470-8241.
(B) The Mental Health Association of Nassau County (UB) seeks volunteers to spend time with people who are lonely and isolated because of mental illness. Call (516) 489-2322 for an application. ... (B) Mercy Medical Center (UB) in Rockville Centre established a 'Safe Haven' program that will accept any newborn, as well as the mother, who needs care. The 24-hour, seven-day-a-week program has a no-questions-asked policy. For more information, call (516) 705-1612. ... (B) The Coma Recovery Association (UB)will host a benefit at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 21 at Floral Park Village Hall. For information, call (516) 997-1826. ... (B) The Long Island Breast Cancer Coalition(UB) is sponsoring the Syril Farber Walk for Hope at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 13, in Eisenhower Park. Sign-up for the 3K Mother's Day walk starts at 8. For more information and to register, call (516) 357-9622.
