Resources

 
MyPyramid Plan

Serving Sizes Made Simple

 

Age, gender and physical activity level play a key role in determining how much food you should eat each day. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) MyPyramid plan makes managing calories and daily servings a piece-of-cake. Personalized results will indicate the amount you should eat from each of the food groups daily.

 
Pesticide Wallet Guide

Pesticide Wallet Guide; the 12 Best and Most Contaminated Fruits and Vegetables

 

This Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in Produce was developed by Environmental Working Group (EWG) and is based on 43,000 tests collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Download the Pesticide Wallet Guide or simply view consolidated information.

 
Calculate Your Body Mass Index

Calculate Your Body Mass Index

 

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. This number is commonly used to judge whether your weight is healthy or whether extra weight increases your risk for health problems.

 

A BMI of less than 18.5 is considered underweight.

A BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 is considered healthy.

A BMI of 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.

A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.


It is also important to remember that weight is only one factor related to risk for disease. If you have questions or concerns about the appropriateness of your weight, you should discuss them with your healthcare provider.


Source- Center for Disease Control and Prevention

 
Blood Pressure and Cholesterol

Know Your Numbers; High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol are Major Risk Factors

 

Heart disease and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death for both men and women in the United States. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, two of the major independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol.


Blood Pressure - Normal blood pressure is 119/79 or below, Pre-hypertension is 120 to 139 (systolic) over 80 to 89 (diastolic). And High blood pressure or Hypertension is 140 or higher (systolic) over 90 or higher (diastolic).


Total Cholesterol - Your total blood cholesterol is a measure of LDL “bad” cholesterol, HDL “good” cholesterol and other lipid components. Total Cholesterol:


Less than 200 is desirable

200-239 is borderline high

240 and above is high


Preventive actions can help. Current national guidelines recommend that all adults have their blood pressure checked regularly and their blood cholesterol levels checked every 5 years.

 

Sources – WebMD, Center for Disease Control, American Heart Association, US Department of Health Services