March is National Nutrition Month and area health departments support healthy eating and healthy living. Peoria and Marshall County Health Departments are offering special Nutrition for Health presentations to community groups and Cooking for the Heart cookbooks for any organization requesting a presentation in March.
While good nutrition is a key factor in healthy living, poor nutrition contributes to poor health, including obesity and overweight. Research tells us that 61% of the people in our Peoria area are obese or overweight. Controlling your weight can reduce the risk of many chronic health conditions including heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, respiratory problems, osteoporosis, sleep disorders, some cancers, and liver disease.
For the best nutrition follow the dietary guidelines for Americans developed by the Departments of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and Agriculture (USDA). These guidelines set the standards for a healthy diet. They include tips such as: eat a variety of food; be at your best weight; eat fewer fatty foods; eat foods that contain fiber; eat less sugar; eat less salt; and do not drink alcohol.
There are activities you can do to practice good nutrition. Learn to read food labels, ask about heart healthy foods at restaurants, check out the nutrition values from school or workplace lunch programs, encourage breast-feeding with new moms, take time to visit your local Farmer’s Market or grocery for fresh fruits and vegetables, and try new healthy recipes.
To schedule a Nutrition for Health presentation, call Peoria City/County Health Department (309)679-6131 or Marshall County Health Department (309)246-8074. For information about other public health programs, visit our websites at www.pcchd.org and www.marshallcountyhealth.org .
