National Water Safety Month in May prepares us for recreational activities.
Water is an attraction during the summer months. Whether we’re drawn to lakes and rivers or public pools and water slides, safety is a necessary concern. We use the water for leisure, sport, and general outdoor relaxation. Boating with or without motors, swimming, fishing and many other kinds of recreation take place in and around the water.
Protecting children around water should always be a number one safety concern.
An adult should always be supervising children around water, whether it’s a pool, lake.
Follow all facility rules and don’t rely on floatation devices for keeping your child safe.
In the water, make sure an adult joins the child.
HISTORY
The World Waterpark Association, the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, The National Recreation & Park Association and the American Red Cross created National Water Safety Month.
HOW TO OBSERVE
Practice water safety. For more water safety tips, visit www.nationalwatersafetymonth.org the website below. Use #NationalWaterSafetyMonth to share on social media.
On March 26th each year, National Spinach Day reminds us of the health benefits packed into this leafy green vegetable. Not only are there so many delicious ways that you can enjoy spinach, but it is also incredibly good for you!
An annual plant, spinach grows natively in central and southwestern Asia. Thought to have originated in ancient Persia, Arab traders carried spinach into India and then later introduced into ancient China. There it was known as “Persian vegetable.” The earliest available record of the spinach plant was found in Chinese, saying that the spinach plant was introduced into China via Nepal.
During her reign as queen of France, Catherine de Medici enjoyed spinach so much, it was served at every meal. To this day, dishes made with spinach are known as “Florentine” reflecting Catherine’s birth in Florence.
Spinach is:
eaten raw or cooked and is available fresh, frozen or canned.
one of the best sources of iron.
an excellent source of calcium, folic acid, fiber, protein, calcium and vitamins A, C and K.
loaded with cancer-fighting antioxidants
believed to help improve cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health.
Types of spinach:
Savoy: dark green color with curly leaves; usually sold in fresh bunches. Flat or Smooth Leaf: broad, smooth leaves; mostly grown for canned and frozen spinach as well as soups, baby food and processed foods. Semi-savoy: a hybrid variety with crinkly leaves: is sold fresh and processed.
Following China, the United States produces the world’s second-largest crop of spinach.
California, Arizona, and New Jersey are the top spinach-producing states in the United States.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalSpinachDay
Many of us enjoy spinach that celebrating is easy! Shake up your vegetable routine and mix up your greens. Experiment with some spinach.
Fresh spinach salad
Spinach pizza
Spinach dip
Cream spinach
Spinach lasagna
Add spinach to scrambled eggs
You can also plant some spinach in your spring garden. Not only will you reap the benefits of a lush green salad, but spinach doesn’t require much space.
Spinach grows in pots on a sunny balcony or in a small garden space.
Use fertile soil.
Plant in cool weather.
Keep moisture levels consistent.
Harvest and enjoy!
You can plant again in the fall. Double the bounty!
Share your favorite ways to add spinach to your meals. Use #NationalSpinachDay to post on social media.
World Kidney Day on the second Thursday in March sets out each year to create increased awareness about kidney care.
Our kidneys are vital to our everyday health, and many health issues contribute to Chronic Kidney Disease. Preventative measures help to reduce our risks and improve outcomes.
Several health conditions impact our kidneys. These are just a few:
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of kidney failure.
High blood pressure weakens blood vessels, including the ones in the kidneys.
High Cholesterol impacts how well the kidneys work and can also lead to high blood pressure and diabetes.
Anorexia Nervosa causes chronic kidney disease due to the lack of a healthy balance of water, electrolytes, and salt in the body.
Lupus causes your immune system to attack parts of your body. It sometimes impacts the kidneys, too.
Polycystic Kidney Disease causes cysts to grow inside the kidneys.
Early Chronic Kidney Disease usually has no symptoms, so early detection is essential. Educating medical professionals, identifying high-risk populations, and increasing donor programs are some of the key objectives of reducing Chronic Kidney Disease.
In 2022 I was rushed to the emergency room with kidney stones I didn’t even know I had. Today I am happy to say I had the stones on the left surgically removed. In the process I learned to take better care of myself and my kidneys. I did such a good job I ended up not needing surgery on the right. My urologist gave me a clean bill of health and encouragement to keep them that way.
In 2006, the International Federation of Kidney Foundations created World Kidney Day to raise awareness and increase educational opportunities regarding kidney diseases and prevention.
We all need to take care of our own health, but it is important to be supportive of others, too. Check out ways you can do both.
If you’re on a medication regimen that requires testing of your kidney function on a regular schedule, be sure to follow your physician’s instructions.
Learn about conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, that increase the risk for Chronic Kidney Disease.
Find out if kidney diseases run in your family and update your medical records with your family physician.
Volunteer to support those receiving dialysis.
Attend a seminar or screening at a local clinic.
Learn about donor programs and consider becoming a donor.
National Kidney Month during March is a reminder to give our kidneys a check up. 1 in 3 Americans are at high risk for kidney disease because of diabetes, high blood pressure, or family history of kidney failure. On top of that, 30 million Americans already have kidney disease, and many of them are not aware of it because symptoms usually don’t show until the disease has progressed.
Our kidneys are crucial for 3 main reasons. They regulate water, they remove waste and regulate minerals, and they produce hormones. Located in our lower back, these two hard-working organs also filter 200 liters of blood a day! Keeping our kidneys healthy is vital to a long and productive life.
HISTORY
National Kidney Foundation supports National Kidney Month.
Learn more about caring for your kidneys at www.kidney.org and use #NationalKidneyMonth to share on social media. Schedule a checkup, and learn what symptoms to keep an eye out for to know if your kidneys are starting to fail or become infected. Here’s what else you can do this month to protect your kidneys:
Control your blood pressure (and diabetes if you have it.) These are the two leading causes of kidney disease and kidney failure.
Exercise often. Regular exercise keeps your kidneys healthy by keeping things moving and controlling blood pressure.
Cut out processed foods. They tend to be big sources of sodium, nitrates, and phosphates, and they’ve been linked to kidney disease.
Try to reduce over the counter pain medicines. They may help with aches and pains, but they can greatly damage your kidneys.
National Caffeine Awareness Month in March reminds us that our fifth cup of java may be harmful to our health.
While sticking to just one cup still has its benefits. When our blood pressure is up, or stomach acid bothers us, sometimes we need to give up the morning pick-me-up. But do we?
This stimulant that provides jolts of energy throughout the day may not be offering the perk it once did. We can build up a tolerance and require more to feel the same boost.
Consider your sources and how much it takes to derive a benefit from the good ol’ bean these days. Take a daily tally of your total caffeine intake from all sources. Do you only have two cups? Or after careful consideration, is your caffeine intake substantially higher?
Possible sources:
Sodas
Tea
Chocolate/cocoa
Guarana/energy drinks
Coffee
Remember, to include caffeine incorporated into our foods. Caffeine isn’t taken out of the coffee ice cream we enjoy before bed. If you wonder why you can’t sleep, that might be why. Don’t be surprised when you order an extra large sweet tea at lunch and get the jitters and sweats during a meeting with the boss.
All these circumstances add up to our total caffeine intake and contribute to sleepless nights, increased blood pressure and stomach acid. However, studies show caffeine in moderation can be beneficial.
Gain benefits from caffeine by consuming it in moderation. Track your intake and see how much you really consume. Use #NationalCaffeineAwarenessMonth to share on social media.
