We know two families who are dealing with a serious illness of one of their family members. One family appears to coping well, while the other seems to be in a tailspin. Are there certain strategies a family can take to help them get through such a situation?
What you’re describing is sometimes called family resilience. Researchers explain the term as the ability of some families to function well when facing some type of stress, and perhaps even become stronger through the process.
The type of stress involved can be almost anything, from an illness such as what you’re describing, to the onset of financial trouble, to any type of major change including marriage, divorce, moving, changes related to work, or many other types of circumstances. The exact same event can...
I met some friends for lunch, and we all realized we’re eating better than we used to. Some of us think it’s because we’re “older and wiser,” but some think everyone is eating better these days. Any idea who’s right?
It’s probably a combination of both.
As we age, our bodies generally need fewer calories, partly because of age-related loss of lean muscle mass. (Most adults lose 2 to 3 percent of muscle for each decade that passes.) So, older adults may end up eating less. If that’s one of your markers for “eating more healthfully,” aging could have something to do with it.
But there does appear to be a cultural shift in the U.S. as well. A January 2014 study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research...
I'm surprised that genetically modified foods aren’t required to be labeled. Why aren’t they?
This remains a controversial topic, and there are points to be made on both sides. Even the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which does not require genetically modified foods to be labeled, supports voluntary labeling by food manufacturers because people are increasingly interested in knowing more about the food they’re eating.
Opponents of labeling foods say it would present a logistical challenge and would create an added expense. But even more, they argue that foods made from genetically modified crops aren’t materially different than foods made from non-genetically modified crops.
When a plant is genetically modified, it has a gene spliced into its genetic...
WOOSTER, Ohio -- A series of training sessions hosted by Ohio State University’s Fruit and Vegetable Safety Program continues through May and possibly into June, before the growing season gets into full swing.
The Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) sessions provide produce growers the basics of on-farm food safety.
In addition, participants will hear the latest news on revisions that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is making to proposed regulations for produce growers under the Food Safety Modernization Act, said Lindsey Hoover, the program’s coordinator. The program is a combined effort of Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, the outreach and research arms of the university’s College of Food, Agricultural,...
I read about a seafood processor that was shut down because of food safety concerns. We’re trying to eat more seafood these days. Should we be doing anything special to avoid foodborne illness?
Eating more seafood is a great choice for a healthful diet, but it’s good that you’re aware of potential food safety concerns. Outbreaks associated with seafood have been caused by a variety of bugs, including norovirus, salmonella, vibrio and others. And recently, two seafood processors, one in New York City and another in Seattle, were shut down because of concerns over Listeria monocytogenes.
Listeria monocytogenes and other pathogens commonly associated with seafood are killed with proper cooking. But listeria is often associated with ready-to-eat foods such as deli meats,...
Editor: National Volunteer Week is April 6-12, 2014.
BRYAN, Ohio -- When Donna Missler became a volunteer with Ohio 4-H Youth Development 29 years ago, “My club had 10 little girls, and I never thought it would grow bigger,” she said.
Today, her club, the Williams County Stars of 4-H Club, has 60 to 65 members each year, and Missler, who runs her own alteration business, also advises every 4-H member in the county taking a sewing project.
Fewer people have time to volunteer, “so clubs have had to get larger,” Missler said. “But when we went to the voters last year for a levy to support 4-H in Williams County, we vowed we wouldn’t turn any kid away. Now we have three or four clubs in the county that are this large.”
Missler is just one of...
I often see website ads that say, “Never eat these foods.” Sometimes there is a picture of a banana. I have never clicked on those ads, but I am curious. Shouldn’t we eat bananas? And what other foods shouldn’t we eat?
If you did click on those ads or did a web search for “never eat these foods,” you might be surprised to find just how many foods different people say we shouldn’t eat.
But rest assured, the official position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the professional organization of registered dietitians, is that any food can fit into a healthful diet. Its list of “foods to avoid” is nonexistent, unless you have allergies or other sensitivities to consider.
In fact, the academy states in a 2013 position paper,...
A friend’s father passed away last year. She later remarked that it was a big relief to find he had left his financial records organized and easy for her to find. I’m single and live far from family, so I’d like to make sure my papers are organized, too, just in case. How should I begin?
Organizing your valuable papers is no small task, but it’s not rocket science, either. And there are some simple tools you can use to get started.
For example, Ohio State University Extension offers “Know Your Valuable Papers,” a 12-page fill-in-the-blank form that helps you keep track of important information and document where you keep it. The form is free to download from http://ohioline.osu.edu. Click on “Home” and then “Financial Management....
I know a few people who insist that dairy foods are bad for you. Is there any truth to that?
It does seem like a lot of people have concerns about dairy. Although it’s possible to have a healthful diet without dairy, consuming dairy products makes it much easier to get critical nutrients. So, the blanket statement that “dairy is bad for you” should be met with skepticism.
Arguments from the “anti-dairy” side are numerous. Some people are concerned about the saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates and even protein in dairy. Others are troubled about hormones, which occur naturally in milk from cows regardless of whether they are treated with synthetic growth hormones to boost milk production.
Some people do have dairy-related health issues. A small number...
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A school garden provides more than just green space and an excuse to get students out of the classroom.
School gardens can make learning come alive.
How to make that work is the focus of “Cultivating Curiosity: The Teachable Garden,” a conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 2 at Ohio State University’s Nationwide and Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus.
“We held our first school garden conference last year, and I thought most participants would be from in and around Columbus,” said Susan Hogan, who is a program assistant for Ohio State University Extension's 4-H Youth Development program in Franklin County. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and...
I’m a new convert to using my meat thermometer regularly. But I’m not sure I’m doing it right. Where can I find guidelines?
First, congratulations for jumping on the meat thermometer bandwagon. Using one is really the only way to tell if meat is cooked thoroughly. And undercooked meat is a leading cause of foodborne illness — one that is easily preventable.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service offers an eight-page fact sheet aptly titled “Kitchen Thermometers” online at http://bit.ly/fsisthermy. It gives you details about the proper use of more than a half-dozen different types, including digital, dial, instant-read and oven-safe thermometers (the type you leave in the meat as it is cooking).
Different kinds...
Editor: National Groundwater Awareness Week is March 9-15, 2014.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Private well owners are encouraged to have their well water tested regularly, but when they do, they’re often stumped when trying to decipher the lab results.
And with more Ohio well water being analyzed under a mandate that shale energy companies provide such tests for any wells within 1,500 feet of proposed horizontal drilling sites, more Ohioans have been left scratching their heads when trying to interpret the findings.
That’s why Ohio State University Extension has teamed up with the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to provide a free online Well Water Interpretation Tool.
The tool is available through OSU Extension’s Ohio Watershed Network at...
I’ve read the news that the obesity rate among preschoolers has dropped, but that some are skeptical. What’s the issue?
It sounds like you’re referring to data published Feb. 26 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
“Prevalence of Childhood and Adult Obesity in the United States, 2011-2012” reported that obesity rates for children ages 2 through 5 had dropped 43 percent in the last decade. At least, that’s what most of the headlines focused on.
You can’t really blame the media for the excitement: They were just reporting what the experts were saying about the study. But there is more to the findings and reason to be wary.
The data came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES, conducted by the Centers...
Editor: Ohio 4-H Week is March 2-8, 2014.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In 1902, local school superintendent A.B. Graham recruited 103 students in Clark County, Ohio, to join a Boys and Girls Agricultural Experiment Club, considered to be the birth of 4-H in the United States.
“Basically, if you look at the projects that A.B. Graham started with -- how to grow better plants and testing different ways to do that, and rope projects involving splicing rope and tying knots, which used basic mechanical and engineering principles -- that was what we call STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) today,” said Tom Archer. Archer is assistant director of Ohio State University Extension in charge of Ohio 4-H Youth Development. OSU Extension is the outreach arm of Ohio State’s...
I recently had a physical, and the results of my blood sugar test were a little high. Since then, I started examining carbohydrate amounts on Nutrition Facts labels, and am surprised at how many carbs are in one of my favorite foods, black beans. Can I fit black beans into a lower-carb diet?
You don’t say how low in carbohydrates you want to go, but the U.S. Dietary Guidelines recommend that adults get 45-65 percent of calories from carbohydrates, with 10-35 percent from protein and 20-35 percent from fat. To do the math, you need to know that carbohydrates and protein each have 4 calories per gram, and fat has 9 calories per gram. So, if you’re eating, say, 1,800 calories a day, and want to trim carbohydrates to 45 percent of your diet, you still can have 200 grams or about...
Other communities can learn from Jefferson County’s experience, researcher says
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Local communities experiencing the shale oil and gas boom often realize early that they have little control in regulating that development. That authority lies at the state level. And there’s bound to be conflict among neighbors -- winners, losers and concerned citizens -- as shale development increases.
But communities shouldn’t simply throw up their hands and just take what comes, said Joe Campbell, research associate with the Social Responsibility Initiative in Ohio State University’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. The initiative is housed in the college’s School of Environment and Natural Resources.
Being proactive, establishing...
Does living together before marriage help or hurt a relationship?
Although many people believe living together before deciding to get married is a good “trial run” before making a commitment, the research disagrees. But the issue isn’t as cut-and-dried as you might think.
It appears there’s a big difference between making the decision to live together when there are still doubts about the long-term nature of your relationship and making that decision after you have already decided to get married. Researchers call this “sliding vs. deciding.”
Couples who find themselves spending a lot of time at each other’s homes may think it just makes sense to start living together. They could not only share expenses, but they would find out what the other...
Some of my friends are huge fans of chia seeds. Do they really offer so many health benefits, or is it just hype?
Chia seeds do have some great properties. But unlike the seeds of Jack and the Beanstalk fame, they aren’t magic, despite the enthusiasm of some vocal advocates. The science so far just hasn’t supported all of the press these little seeds have received.
But first the good news. Chia seeds are packed with nutrients. One ounce, about 2 tablespoons, offers about 18 percent of the calcium most adults need per day, 11 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, plus 4,900 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids — more than what you’ll find in flax seed. They are also touted for their high levels of antioxidants, which are higher than even in blueberries.
Some people...
Why is there a waxy substance on some of the fruits and vegetables I buy at the grocery store? Is it safe?
Some fruits and vegetables, especially those grown in warm climates, produce a natural waxy coating on the surface to prevent too much moisture from being lost.
When the crops are harvested and thoroughly cleaned before packaging and shipping, this natural wax is removed. If the wax isn’t present, produce that needs to travel a long distance may arrive damaged. So, produce handlers apply a thin coating of new wax to replace what was lost.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, applying the wax coating is helpful because it:
Helps the produce retain moisture and stay fresh.
Protects the produce from bruising and inhibits mold.
Prevents other physical...
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Heart-shaped boxes of candy are ubiquitous this time of year, and with Valentine’s Day falling on a Friday, it’s likely restaurants will be mobbed more than usual.
But chocolates and a nice dinner out don’t necessarily make a relationship strong, said Carmen Irving, the Healthy Relationships Program specialist with Ohio State University Extension’s Family and Consumer Sciences program.
“There is a difference between what people fantasize is the perfect romantic relationship versus the actual qualities that go into making a long-lasting, committed relationship,” Irving said.
Research dating back to the early 1990s from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Duke Medical Center indicates that young adults...
I’m not sure what to make of the fact that so many people are now calling obesity a “disease.” What’s the point? Isn’t it a cop-out?
When the American Medical Association officially recognized obesity as a disease last June, the move was controversial.
But the idea behind classifying obesity as a disease rather than a “disorder” or “condition” has some merit: Health officials hoped it would encourage doctors to take more ownership in helping patients with weight-loss efforts and encourage more discussion about weight.
Still, in adopting the measure, the AMA essentially declared one-third of Americans as “sick” simply because of their weight, even if they don’t have any health problems. For that and...
With Valentine’s Day approaching, I am wondering about the so-called health benefits of chocolate and wine. I hear a lot about that this time of year, but I’m skeptical. Is there any truth to the hype?
Actually, there is evidence that compounds in chocolate, wine and other foods have properties that may help fight against a wide range of diseases. But if you use that as an excuse to overindulge, you could be doing yourself more harm than good.
These compounds, called flavonoids, are produced by plants. It’s important to know that there are many different kinds of flavonoids.
The latest headlines on flavonoids and health focused on diabetes. A study published in the Journal of Nutrition combed through data from nearly 2,000 women in the United Kingdom who had...
I’m starting to collect the documents I need to file taxes this year, and I noticed we still have tax records for the past decade in our files. How long do we need to keep them?
Officially, the Internal Revenue Service has three years to audit federal income tax returns, but there are exceptions. The agency gives itself six years after a return was filed to audit in unusual cases — for example, if additional income comes to light, and the amount is more than 25 percent of the income shown on the return. In addition, if the IRS determines a return was false or fraudulent, an audit can occur at any time — there is no time limit.
Even as you purge your old files, you might want to keep some of the records that you have with your tax returns. For example, you may want to...
I helped during a recent food drive, and I saw some of the donated items were past their expiration date. Is that OK? Are they safe?
They may or may not be safe, but it depends on the food bank on whether they accept food items with expired dates. It’s always best to check with the organization for its guidelines.
One of the challenges is that dates on food items often aren’t true expiration dates, at least in regards to food safety. Although there are no federal standards for these terms:
“Sell by” indicates how long the manufacturer recommends that the product be displayed for sale at retail. This does not include any time that the product might be in your home.
“Best by” or “use by” indicates when the product should be consumed...
None of my kids drink a lot of water. Should I encourage them to drink more?
Yes, fill up that water glass and encourage kids to drink up.
Just like it does with vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, the Institute of Medicine offers recommendations for daily adequate intake of water. Research suggests that most children and adolescents aren’t getting enough.
For school-age children, expert panels generally recommend daily water intake of about 4 cups for children 4-8 years old, 7-8 cups for youth ages 9-13, and 8-11 cups for those 14-18 years old. It’s recommended that children consume this quantity of water daily in liquid form (water, unflavored lowfat milk, and 100 percent fruit juices). For teens, that translates into drinking enough water to fill a 2-liter...