A Super Helpful Site for Food Info.....

Eating healthy foods is an essential part to ones overall health. Make sure to check nutrition facts on the back of any prepackaged foods for detailed information about what the food contains. Another good way to check out how healthy the food you’re eating is http://fooducate.com/.

This website gives almost any product you could buy a letter grade based on how healthy it is. It does this by taking the nutrition facts and the ingredients into account. It adds points for foods with intrinsic nutrients and takes away points for foods with high levels of saturated fats, sugars and sodium. It also takes into account real beneficial nutrients instead of just ones the manufacturers add to the product. Another thing that accounts for a products grade is product category, meaning that they look for different things in yogurt and bread, or a breakfast or a dinner. How much a food is processed is also accounted for. The more processed it is the lower the grade level. The last thing taken into account is fortification, meaning that a product that has vitamins added to make 100% of your daily value doesn’t necessarily make it healthy, and a food that has it naturally is the healthier alternative.

You can search any food you want and its rating will pop up . For example if you search Goldfish Crackers, its rating is a C and it provides you with helpful information like the fact it contains MSG like ingredients as well as giving you the nutrition facts and ingredients. This is a helpful website to check out if you’re unsure if something you’re eating is unhealthy, or just how unhealthy something really is.

Nutrition and Exercise related careers

What are some careers related to nutrition and exercise?

A person interested in the science behind nutrition and exercise can find a wide array of careers in the field. Three careers included in the field are sports nutritionists, physical therapists, and nutrition counselors.

Sports Nutritionist

Description: A sports nutritionist assesses a client’s lifestyle and health and exercise choices, helps the client make goals, and creates optimal nutrition plans to boost fitness and endurance.

Requirements: a bachelor’s degree in sports nutrition or other major and, in many states, a license, like being a  Registered Dietitian (RD).

Outlook: 20% increase from 2010-2020

Average Salary: $56,000

Physical Therapist

Description: A physical therapist works with patients to either overcome physical disabilities or injuries or limited ranges of motion, or to prevent these setbacks.

Requirements: A doctorate in physical therapy and a license.

Outlook: 39% increase from 2010-2020

Average Salary: $76,000

Nutrition Counselor

Description: Similar to sports nutritionists, nutrition counselors provide clients with education and nutritional information regarding their health. They also provide plans to improve weight, health, and lifestyle patterns. Nutrition counselors can also help design healthy nutritional programs for people with allergies.

Requirements: A bachelor of science in Human Nutrition, or a similar major, and a license, either as a registered dietetic technician (DTR) or a registered dietitian (RD)

Outlook: 20% increase from 2010-2020

Average Salary: $55,000

Source: education-portal.com

If you've ever wondered WHY it matters that you exercise and stay fit, perhaps this video created by two of our talented students can reinforce the importance for you.  It outlines the basics of the cardiovascular system as well as the details about the difference between working out at the aerobic and anaerobic level....enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQf6CDaFroQ

Don't Let the Cold Weather Slow YOU Down!

Are you looking for someplace new to get some exercise and do something active during the winter months?  There are many options to check out in the area.

If you enjoy playing basketball, volleyball, dodgeball, you will want to check out the brand new local indoor facility in Hampton called The RIM Sports Complex which recently opened in September of 2013.    The RIM has five high school basketball/volleyball courts as well as a 2,200 square foot strengthening and conditioning area.  The court floor is state of the art.  There is also the Fast Break Café to offer healthy food options for athletes. The RIM offers activities for athletes of all ages.  Educational series are offered such as Sports and Nutrition and Injury Prevention through Exeter Hospital Athletic Performance Center.  The Rim offers monthly and daily memberships for pickup Basketball and Volleyball. 

            Seacoast United in Hampton has many opportunities for the winter months for soccer, field hockey and baseball league play and skill development.  Seacoast United was founded in 1992; with the only idea on their mind was the well being of the youth in America. Each coach there is specially trained for those specific sports and kids. It’s one of the best places in New Hampshire to do early training or team practices and games. I use to play soccer there and it was some of the most fun I had in a great facility close by.

            

USA Training Centers is located in Newington, NH and has trained many of the area's top baseball and softball prospects for over 9 years. Their professional coaches and instructors provide lessons and camps for young athletes. The USA Training Center also motivates athletes to exceed their potential. They believe in the word fun when learning baseball and softball. They also focus on the development of each student athlete.

          

    As you can see there are many opportunities in the area to keep active and improve your skills in a game you love in various indoor venues. 

              

 

Sitting is the New Smoking

A recent Runner’s World article, written by Selene Yeager, revealed the negative impacts that a sedentary lifestyle introduces, even for runners or other athletes. Travis Saunders, a certified exercise physiologist at Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, states that “it is entirely possible to meet current physical activity guidelines while still being incredibly sedentary, and that sitting increases your risk of death and disease, even if you are getting plenty of physical activity.” He goes on to compare sitting to smoking--they’re both harmful to your health.

Even someone considered athletic who exercises up to an hour a day can spend up to nine hours a day sitting and can face the same risks the classic couch potato. Sitting shuts down important muscles, genes, and processes your body needs to use to maintain health. In large amounts, it can significantly increase chances of depression and even cancer. Neville Owen sums up the findings of multiple scientific studies by saying “the longer you sit, the higher your risk.”

So what can you do to decrease your time spent sitting? Take lots of breaks, even if they’re as short as one minute. Go for a walk at lunch, or after dinner. Make daily exercise a habit. Your body and your health will thank you.

“Sitting is the new smoking”

http://www.runnersworld.com/health/sitting-is-the-new-smoking-even-for-runners

in the news....

See what some of our Healthy Hawks had to say in the Exeter Newsletter!

Road races are a great way to make a contribution to a local fundraising organization.  Road races allow people within the community to interact with one another through exercising which is always beneficial due to the obesity epidemic within the United States. 

Even though the weather is turning a bit chilly, there are still many road races taking place within nearby towns over the coming weeks. 

Saturday, November 2nd

Kingston, NH is hosting the FallChallenge Trail Run which is sponsored by the YMCA and is challenging people to be active within the community. (sorry, this is not running this year.)

Manchester is also hosting the Pioneer Dash, which is a 5k road race. 

Sunday, November 3rd

The Manchester City Marathon has been named as the USATF – New England Championship Marathon for 2013. The MCM is a challenging Boston Qualifier that takes runners on a scenic trip through the historic mill district of the Granite State's largest city.

Sunday, November 10th

The Seacoast Region is also partaking in the awareness to get fit; Portsmouth is hosting the Seacoast Half Marathon to provide donations to numerous non-profit organizations within the community. 

Saturday, November 16th

Stratham is hosting the Feed The Need Predict Your Time TurkeyTrot, this could possibly be an event for the Healthy Hawks to partake in, why not get a group together to run/walk?. The event is sponsored by the Stratham Recreation Department and the starting point is at 10 Bunker Hill Avenue.

Saturday, November 23

Rockingham County Portsmouth is hosting the Jingle Bell Run/Walk Portsmouth, which is a 10K run to begin the Thanksgiving festivities and who’s goal is to earn $19,075. 

Then Hampton Falls is hosting the Tiger Trot, which is a 10 mile road race for both novice and elite runners with a 1 mile kids race. It is hosted by the Lincoln Akerman School PTO, an organization run entirely through volunteer efforts which provides a variety of educational and developmental materials to the school as well as enrichment activities for the benefit of the students and the community. 

Thursday, November 28th

Finally, Derry is hosting the GDTC 5K Turkey Trot Road Race. This is a 5K run for the support of local food pantries within the area like St. Jude, St. Thomas, Upper Room and Sonshine Kitchen.