Foodie Tuesday: Citrus

February 28, 2012 at 4:57 pm (Uncategorized)
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   ImageRecent studies have shown that consumption of citrus fruits can have an extremely beneficial effect on women in terms of stroke risk. Citrus fruits contain compounds called flavanoids, which are secondary metabolites in the plant. The flavanoid that specifically and directly contributes to women’s health is called flavanone. Studies of women intaking flavanone showed that those women who had the most flavanones had a reduced risk of blood-clot related stroke, about a 19% decrease. This proves yet again how important it is to get in your daily dose of fruits and vegetables, and with this added bonus extremely relevant to health and stroke risk, there is no reason to not add a little more fruit to your diet each day. 

Here is an easy fruit salad recipe you can follow to make a quick and delicious snack or side for yourself. Feel free to mix and match fruits to your liking, and the more fruit, the better! This particular recipe contains 6 mcg of folate for one serving, so be sure to get in a good amount of fruit each day to maximize your folate intake.Image

For this particular recipe, gather 2 bananas, 2 oranges and 2 apples. Slice the two bananas into smaller pieces, and cut the apples and oranges into easy-to-eat pieces. Add 1 can of drained fruit cocktail, and you may add 8 ounces of lowfat yogurt if you desire. Mix all ingredients in a bowl, and refrigerate before serving. Enjoy!

To see the original recipe, click here. To learn more about the flavanone study, click here.

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Featured YouTube Video: “Safe Sex” A Story of Birth Control Sabotage

February 23, 2012 at 5:30 pm (Pregnancy, Reproductive Health, Sex, Teen Health, Uncategorized)
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When we feature videos, we try to choose media that makes the viewer think about the various issues of today and how information is passed along in this fast-paced social media-oriented world. So check out this video, because this is one of the first music videos we’ve seen about the issue of contraceptive sabotage. 

Researchers who work in the area of relationship violence have found that up to 50% of all unintended pregnancies happen when a male partner messes with his female partner’s birth control.   Some questions – has this happened to you or any of your friends?  How do you think women should deal with this? Do you think this is an effective way to spread information about this issue?  We want to hear your thoughts!

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Foodie Tuesday: Chinese greens

February 21, 2012 at 5:25 pm (Uncategorized)
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   It is unfortunate that the popular foods of today are loaded with artificial and abnormally high additions of sugar and salt, so here is a recipe that is brimming with natural goodness. The special ingredient? Bok choy. ImageBok choy is known as a cruciferous vegetable, and is related to vegetables such as cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli. Studies following consumers of cruciferous vegetables in Shanghai, China have shown that those eating more vegetables were more likely to live during the 5-year time period of the study. One prime feature that may relate to this incredible life-lengthening effect is that cruciferous vegetables contain an isothiocyanate that is a powerful antioxidant, called sulforaphane. Sulforaphane is particularly incredible because it’s able to lower inflammation in the cardiovascular system, as well as oxidative stress.Image

   To encourage consumption of this wonderful vegetable, here is a great recipe that incorporates these Chinese greens. The recipe is for Sesame-Shiitake Bok Choy, in which bok choy, mushroom and sesame oil are combined to make a delicious stir-fry. The total amount of folate in the cooked bok choy in the recipe is 389 mcg, which is about 97% RDA, so this is a wonderful source of this nutrient. I encourage you try out this recipe today!

Check out the article about the study here. 

Sharonya

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Sexual Violence and the NISVS

February 20, 2012 at 4:49 pm (Uncategorized)
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   Valentine’s Day has recently passed, and with it came the making of new relationships as well as the renewal and maintenance of old connections. Thinking about the idea of domestic and teenage relationships in a public health context, I believe the safety of each individual in the particular relationship is crucial for the happiness and healthiness of the relationship itself.

   With this in mind, I wanted to shed light on a violence prevention initiative of the Center for Disease Control’s Injury Center. This particular item is the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS). Established in 2010, it is based on a collection of data over the telephone regarding sexual violence, stalking and intimate partner violence victimization of American adults. It is a continuous survey that taps into accounts of past and ongoing experiences of violence. The goal of this project was to obtain more concrete and factual descriptions of violence forms of this kind in the US, as well as keeping track of the prevalence and commonality of sexual violence.

   The data collected for the year 2010 is intended to be the foundation for all future information obtained about this issue. To summarize, here are the main points determined for the results from this initial survey, taken from the NISVS Fact Sheet for 2010:

  • Women are disproportionately affected by sexual violence, intimate partner violence and stalking.
  • Female victims of intimate partner violence experienced different patterns of violence than male victims.
  • The majority of the victimization starts early in life.

   The specific data points summarized in these findings, as well as the CDC press release about the survey, reflect a high magnitude of this violence in the population, and on average, people become victims of rape, physical violence or stalking by an intimate partner at a rate of 24 people per minute. According to the survey results, out of five women, one has been raped, and out of seven men, one has been exposed to severe physical violence from an intimate partner sometime in their life. This information is extremely disturbing, and further emphasizes the importance of assembling this data for measures to be taken against this enormous and saddening problem.

   To learn more about the NISVS, visit the CDC website’s page on the initiative, and to learn more about sexual violence and intimate partner violence prevention, click the previous links. If you know someone affected by sexual violence or you yourself have been affected, call the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network, also known as RAINN, hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. If you or someone you know has been affected by intimate partner violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE.

Sharonya

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The HPV Vaccine: Not Just for Women?

February 16, 2012 at 1:55 pm (Uncategorized)
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   With new developments and research into the effects and success of the HPV vaccine, awareness of the benefits that this vaccine has on the population needs to be increased. Often times these vaccines targeted towards particular STIs are catered towards women in terms of information, but now it is more relevant and necessary than ever to show the possibilities of the HPV vaccine in terms of the population as a whole.

   First, a background on the HPV vaccine in general must be given. This particular vaccine, known as HPV4, is targeted towards HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18. In June 2006, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) licensed its usage in females. Another vaccine, known as Bivalent HPV vaccine, was licensed for usage in females in October 2009, but is specifically utilized against HPV 16 and 18. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), a branch of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) often give recommendations on vaccines, and have done the same for this particular vaccine. It recommends routine use of the vaccine in young girls, at 11 or 12 years of age. Then, in 2009, the HPV4 received its license for usage in males, specifically for genital wart prevention.

   This advance was extremely important to respond to the male burden of medical problems. HPV 16 can cause anal, penile and oropharyngeal cancers, and many of the current cases of these diseases are result of this. Out of 22,000 cancers happening annually in the US linked to HPV 16 and 18, about 7000 cases are in males. This is clearly a pressing issue in the area of sexual health, especially that of males, which is why this HPV vaccine is so pertinent in this day and age.

   Many studies were carried out to test the success of this particular vaccine, in both males and females. Data was collected on the vaccine’s ability to successfully prevent genital warts, with positive results. HPV vaccine given in one dose to males had 68.1% effectiveness in prevention of HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 genital warts. However, if 3 doses of the vaccine were given, and the patient was seronegative, meaning the antibodies for the HPV were not present, and DNA-negative on the first day, the percentage was 89.3%.

   The good thing about this HPV vaccine is that tests show symptoms are very minimal, and were due to reactions at the site of injection. Recipients of the vaccine most often reported headache and fever as the worst of the side effects.

   According to data collection, in the time period of licensure of the vaccine to September 2011, the number of doses of HPV4 distributed throughout the US has reached at least 40 million. Though this number seems amazing, the amount of women and men actually getting the vaccine is considered low. I believe the best approach to this low response is to simply spread information, especially ACIP recommendations.

   The determined vaccination routine for males that ACIP suggests is for those age 11or 12, given in three doses. The series can be initially at given at 9 years of age. With such positive results and benefits, don’t hesitate to look into this vaccine, whether it is for yourself, your partner and even your children.

All information provided is from the source, “Recommendations on the Use of HPV Vaccine in Males: Background of HPV Vaccination Program in the United States,” http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/756274_2. 

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Resolutions for the Keeping

February 13, 2012 at 9:16 pm (Uncategorized)
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ImageWith the recent Chinese New Year celebrations, it is not too late to check up on those New Year’s resolutions initially established, as well as fashion some new ones because it is only just the beginning, and it’s never too late to make some changes in one’s life. But, with the making of these resolutions comes the problem of keeping them. Often times, resolutions are too big and too ambitious to be maintained, and therefore fall through, only to be revived yet again at the same time next year. From the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, are some guidelines for making resolutions, so you can better follow the goals that you set for yourself:

1. Instead of coming up with a broad resolution, such as, “I want to lose weight” or “I want to get physically active,” come up with a more specific goal, such as “I’m going to jog each morning” or “I will workout for 30 minutes each day.”

2.  Focus on one resolution that can be successfully achieved, instead of having multiple tasks going on that you want to complete.

3. Make a list to remind yourself of what you need to do each day to accomplish your goals.

4. Once you set your specific resolution of choice, start taking steps towards achieving the goal right away! Whether it be leaving your computer and going for a stroll or planning a healthy next meal, action without delay is key!

ImageNeed a resolution to begin with? Never fear, here are some general and popular resolutions that you can make your own, and strive to achieve depending on your lifestyle, taken from Health.com:

1. Lose weight

A common resolution throughout this country, but very achievable if you have a plan. Keep a journal of what you eat and how much you exercise daily, it will help you keep up and stick to your goals!

2. Stay in touch

Rekindle old friendships and catch up with friends you haven’t seen or talked to in a while. All the social resources are out there, especially Facebook, and the more friends you make, the better, because they will only make your life even happier and more exciting.

3. Save money

Spend only when you need to, and buy only what you will use. Try to set limits on your spending each week/month depending on your tendencies.

4. Cut your stress

Lighten the load and learn to say “no” to things that you don’t have to absolutely do. Take breaks throughout the day, walk around and listen to music to keep your mood relaxed and your mind focused.

5. Volunteer

Pour some time and energy into a cause you care about, whether it is the local animal shelter or soup kitchen. Helping out another in need gives great feelings of happiness and positivity, which are good for the mind and soul.

6. Get more sleep

A full dose of shut-eye is essentially your way to reboot daily. Getting in more sleep, whether it be sleeping earlier or taking naps during the day, is very beneficial for the wellbeing and strength of the brain and mind.

I hope these tips help you make and keep your resolutions in the New Year. And if you aren’t one to make resolutions, these can just be suggestions for having a healthy and happy life in general. Enjoy!

Sharonya

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Go Folic! @ CYWD “Know Justice” Conference

February 10, 2012 at 11:06 am (About Go Folic!, Health Events, Notes From the Field)
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know justice conference 2012Go Folic! and DPH Community Health Programs for Youth will be tabling at the 4th Annual Know Justice Conference this coming Wednesday, February 15, from 1-2 PM. The conference is cosponsored by the Center for Young Women’s Development, United Playaz, Youth Radio and Visual Arts Academy Magnet Program (VAAMP).   

This FREE conference is created by and for young people affected by the juvenile justice system and the foster care system.  The Know Justice Conference will bring about 300 youth, families and service providers from all over the bay area together to give them access to the tools and resources needed to navigate the juvenile and criminal justice systems in order to advocate for themselves and others.

If you or a friend or family member has been involved with the juvenile justice and/or foster care systems, and live in San Francisco, this is THE conference to attend.  The conference will take place from 9 AM – 4 PM on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at the San Francisco Public Main Library.  Located at 100 Larkin Street @ Market the library is directly across from the Civic Center BART & Muni station, so is easy to get to.  Click here to register.

If you are planning to attend, we hope you’ll stop by our table between 1-2 PM.  Cole Street Youth Clinic staff member, Salina Yee, will be there distributing free Go Folic! vitamins and offering information on reproductive health care and Department of Public Health Department youth services.

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Go Folic! Wecomes Sharonya Shrivastava

February 3, 2012 at 2:04 pm (About Go Folic!, Healthy Women Bios, Notes From the Field, Uncategorized)
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Hello everyone! My name is Sharonya Shrivastava, and I am excited to be the new Family Planning Intern for the San Francisco Department of Public Health Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Section! During this spring semester, I will be utilizing social networking websites to increase awareness of the Go Folic! Women’s Nutrition Project and blog, as well as conduct outreach for the project and MCAH programs in the community.

I am from Granite Bay, CA, a suburban town a half an hour northeast ofSacramento, CA, but am currently residing in Berkeley, CA. I am a sophomore at the University of California, Berkeley, intending to major in Integrative Biology.

I am also on the pre-medical track, but of late have been delving into the public health sector of the health field. As far as past health experience goes, I have been a participating member of the American Diabetes Association’s Walk for Diabetes, and have raised funds and awareness towards the organization and research into diabetes treatment and prevention.

I have also interned at Roseville Internal Medicine, a private practice in my hometown, where I was able to observe front desk and office interactions as well as manage patient files and other office paperwork. I am eager to begin working as a Family Planning Intern because I will finally get the chance to be involved directly in the public health sector through this organization!

I am looking forward to blogging for the Go Folic! Women’s Nutrition Project because I enjoy this style of writing and method of communication. Over the summer, I was a Featured Blogger for YouthNoise (just merged with mobilize.org), a social media website in which young people blog about various issues or ideas of interest and reach other youth their age.

This was a wonderful experience, because I was essentially given an open space to blog about one of my passions: the environment. Through the blog, I was able to reach others, both young and old, who shared my very same interests. In this way, I learned a lot about the field I was writing about through my research for each biweekly blog.

I hope to gain knowledge and resources in the same way from this internship, so I will build skills to speak confidently about this particular health issue as well as learn more about it from Go Folic! clients and supporters.  I cannot wait to get started!

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