shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Holiday Party Survival Guide: Tips to Avoid Weight Gain November 15, 2016 • Page 13 Why Are You Avoiding the Doctor? Most Americans want to stay healthy and prevent disease and illness. For many, Lights decorate streets across the counDon’t Overdo the Buffet this means getting regular check-ups and try. The holiday season is officially upon Holiday meals tend to be large, buffetusing their health plan benefits. For others, us! However, with the joy of the season style gatherings where it is easy to overeat it seems that ignorance is bliss. comes the tendency to over-indulge. and fill up on unhealthy options. According to the Centers for Disease On average, Americans gain approxiTo avoid overeating, Mangieri recomControl and Prevention (CDC), Americans mately one to two pounds during the holimends loading your party plate with lean get their preventive services only about half day season. With just a few strategies from protein and veggies. “But that poses a the time, even though preventive care is fulnutrition experts, you can avoid weight problem at many holiday parties because ly covered at no cost by most health plans gain while still enjoying friends, family and treats and snacks are often all that fill the under the Affordable Care Act. Preventive holiday feasts. countertops. Stay in control by taking your services save lives and decrease sufferDon’t Skip Meals own healthy protein options with you such ing from advanced illnesses. Vaccinations “In preparation for a holiday feast, do as turkey meatballs, chicken skewers or a prevent life-threatening diseases. Health www.missourivalleyshopper.com not skip meals throughout the day,” says shrimp cocktail platter,” says Mangieri. screenings can find serious conditions Heather Mangieri, registered dietitian Also note that it takes about 20 minutes early. Managing diabetes, high cholesterol nutritionist and Academy of Nutrition and for your stomach to tell your brain you are and high blood pressure can prevent heart Dietetics spokesperson. “Skipping meals full. “Before going back for seconds, take attacks, strokes or kidney failure. Despite can result in overeating later on.” time to savor each bite and enjoy conversa- these facts, there are numerous reasons Instead, Mangieri recommends eating tion with friends and family,” says Mangieri. people avoid their doctors. foods full of protein and high in fiber before Don’t Splurge on Sweets “Understanding why you avoid getting the feast because these foods will fill you “It is okay to save room for dessert, but your needed preventive care is the first step up and satisfy hunger. try to choose only one splurge item,” recin taking action for your health,” says Dr. Don’t Forget to Exercise ommends Smithson. “These sweet treats Christina Stasiuk, senior medical director The holidays are a busy time full of can stick to your waistline and the added for Cigna. cooking, decorating, shopping and catchsugar may make you crash later.” Avoid Dr. Christina and the experts at Cigna ing up with loved ones. But remember, it overdoing it on dessert and limit sugary identified six types of people based on comis still important to make time for physical beverages. mon perceptions. Thinking about where you activity. Use these expert tips at the holiday din- fit can help you see why you may put off “We have set a tradition to include a ner table to maintain a healthful eating plan preventive care: family walk over the holidays,” says registhroughout the entire season. The holidays • Procrastinators: Procrastinators fear tered dietitian nutritionist and Academy are a wonderful time of the year, and it is that a check-up will discover a condition spokesperson Toby Smithson. “It’s a great possible to enjoy this special time without that needs to be addressed and will impact time to create memories, share in converweight gain. them personally and financially. They delay sation and sneak in exercise.” or avoid getting a check-up to cope with their apprehension. • What-if Worriers: What-if Worriers spend a lot of time thinking about unpleasant hypothetical situations and things. While some worriers see a doctor for every ache or pain, others avoid check-ups alto- www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com gether because they anticipate an unfavorable diagnosis. • Solitary Sufferers: Many people don’t get help from their doctors to avoid revealing personal issues or concerns -- especially related to mental health or substance use -- because they’re ashamed and worried about being judged as weak by others. This fear also keeps them from using their Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) at work. • Super Savers: Super Savers always look for a good deal and hate to pay full price for anything. They pinch every penny and may view a check-up as not worth the cost. Some don’t even realize their health benefit plan covers preventive care services with no out-of-pocket costs, or how advanced diseases may cost them much more time and money. • Workaholics: People in this group value work over any other activity. They may consider a check-up to be a waste of time, and don’t realize that poor health can impact the work performance they prize. • Self-Diagnosers: Self-Diagnosers feel confident that they are engaging in healthy activities and the need for a check-up doesn’t really apply to them. They may not consider that early on, many conditions have no physical symptoms. No matter what your own motivations and concerns may be, you can get tips on taking control of your health and using your health benefits to the fullest at Cigna.com. “From vaccinations to early detection, optimal health absolutely includes preventive care. Get past the hurdles and schedule your recommended check-ups. It is crucial for your long-term health and wellness,” says Dr. Christina. www.missourivalleyshopper.com How Arts and Crafts Can Help Heal Veterans in Your Community When people hear there might be a bomb nearby, most will try to get as far away as fast as possible. U.S. Army Specialist Brandon Sanford and his bomb-sniffing dog Rexo, however, were not as lucky. Sanford and Rexo were part of the Army’s bomb detection unit, tasked with finding life-threatening explosive devices. “I was nervous on the first patrol missions since our duty was to find explosives designed to kill American soldiers,” said Sanford. When a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle in 2008, Sanford suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), among other wounds. Because of his injuries, Sanford suffers from seizures as well as problems with balance, fine motor skills and more. Basic tasks like buttoning a shirt are now daunting endeavors for him. And so the long, arduous process of healing began. Along with surgery and physical therapy, craft therapy became part of Sanford’s treatment plan. When men and women return from war or other military postings, they often bring home more than their duffel bags. That is why Help Heal Veterans (Heal Vets), a nonprofit founded during the Vietnam War, operates on the knowledge that not all medicine comes in a bottle. As America’s largest supplier of therapeutic arts and crafts resources, Heal Vets has distributed more than 29 million kits since 1971, averaging 43,000 kits per month. The kits consist of hundreds of craft categories like woodworking, leather, models and a variety of needlecrafts. Many doctors and occupational therapists prescribe arts and crafts as an important component of a treatment plan. Such an approach provides tremendous therapeutic and rehabilitative benefits, including improving fine motor skills, cognitive functioning, memory and dexterity. Crafts can also help alleviate anger issues and the severity of post-traumatic stress disorder www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com (PTSD) and TBI triggers, such as anxiety, memories, sadness and frustration. In some cases, the benefits are physical as well. For example, stringing together a leather craft might help with hand-eye coordination and dexterity. Painting or model building can ease symptoms of PTSD or depression. Sanford said that working with small pieces has helped him with his hand-eye coordination. He also suffers from short-term memory problems associated with his TBI, so working on the kits helps train his focus and concentration skills. Since World War I, craft kits have consistently proven effective tools for veterans’ rehabilitation and healing. According to a Health Care Data Inc. study, 89.6 percent of patients surveyed felt Heal Vets craft therapy helped maintain or improve their physical capabilities. Furthermore, craft projects help build family bonds when completed with loved ones, improve self-esteem and surface previously untapped artistic talent. As Americans pay their respects this month to those who have served, Heal Vets encourages you to think about ways you can help enrich the lives of the 22 million U.S. veterans and military personnel. Heal Vets relies solely on charitable donations to produce its craft kits. For more information about the program or to donate art supplies, journals and other tools that spark creativity to a veterans’ organization near you, visit HealVets.org. “Today, one of every three Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffers from PTSD and/or TBI. Even more, the suicide rate for U.S. military members continues to rise. Reawakening veterans’ enthusiasm for life, therefore, remains an utmost priority,” said Captain Joe McClain, a U.S. Navy veteran and current Heal Vets CEO.