Health Tips for the month of May

Weekly Health Tips for the month of May
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May 6, 2007- Brown Ground Beef: Is It Done?

If you're part of the grill-it-till-it's-brown crowd, looks could get your gut into serious trouble.

Meats can turn brown well before they've reached a safe internal temperature, especially if they're pale and soft (think pork and ground beef), salted (think marinated), or they have spent a long time in your freezer. Here's how you'll know when meat is done.

Meat -- especially ground beef -- can look thoroughly cooked even though its internal temperature might not be high enough to kill dangerous foodborne pathogens, such as E. coli. Anything that alters the pH level of meat will affect how quickly it browns, including storage conditions, seasonings, and thawing methods.

Safe Numbers
Use a food thermometer to ensure that your beef, fish, and chicken reach the temperatures set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

* Steaks, roasts, and fish -- 62.8 degrees C (145 degrees F)
* Pork and ground beef -- 71.1 degrees C (160 degrees F)
*Chicken breasts -- 76.7 degrees C (170.1 degrees F)

May 13, 2007- Start Smile-Saving Early

Only about half of kids 1 to 5 years old have received preventive dental care.

Bad news -- prematurely losing a baby tooth because of decay may set the stage for bite problems down the road. Dental appointments should start with the first tooth. Talk with your dentist about how often your child needs additional checkups. It will vary, depending on factors such as what your child eats and how he or she cares for those budding pearly whites.

More than half of kids between the ages of 5 years and 9 years have at least one cavity or filling, and more and more toddlers are getting tooth decay in their baby teeth. It's an alarming trend, and it confirms that preventive tooth care should start long before a child even has teeth.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends cleaning an infant's gums daily with a soft cloth or infant toothbrush and water.

Professional care should begin after the first tooth erupts. Over the following years, dentist visits will include regular cleanings and checks for tooth decay. Your child's dentist might even recommend fluoride treatments or dental sealants to help keep decay away.
The American Dental Association suggests that children have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. Early treatment can minimize a malocclusion or "bad bite."

Research suggests that about 72 percent of all kids have at least one preventive dental visit per year. Is your child one of them?

May 20, 2007- Eye on Exercise

Walking is a quick path to a more youthful body. But more youthful eyesight?

Seems so. People who hit the walking trail at least three times a week are less likely than exercise slackers to develop wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), an eye disease that can smudge out central vision.

In the U.S., AMD is one of the most common causes of blindness in people over age
60. Wet AMD is an advanced form of the disease. But you don't have to go down to wet AMD without a fight. If you're over 65, simply walking more can help your peepers steer clear of the condition.
Just how does exercise help? It might hinder a process that hurts not only your eyes but also your heart: inflammation.

May 27, 2007- Watermelon: Best Not Chilled

Ice-cold watermelon on a steamy summer day really hits the spot. But you'll be best served by keeping it on your countertop until cutting time.

Whole watermelons stored at room temperature deliver more cell-protecting antioxidants (specifically lycopene and beta carotene) than refrigerated or freshly picked melons.

After it's picked, watermelon continues to ripen and build up antioxidants. Cold temperatures appear to cut this process short. So leave your watermelon out, as long as you haven't sliced it. After it's cut, it should be stored in the refrigerator for food-safety reasons.

For an ice-cold treat, chill the fruit right before serving.

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