According to the American Institute for Cancer research, Approximately 4 of every 10 US cancer cases could be prevented with health-related changes including diet, weight and physical activity. A diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, and whole fruit can help set you on the right track.*

Other dietary changes that may reduce the development of cancer include: Limiting alcohol consumption  Decreasing the amount of red meat in your diet Reducing the consumption of processed foods Avoiding foods and beverages rich in sugar

This is a great idea that a reader of my blog turned into a reality. Check it out:

http://slimkicker.com/

http://www.donothingfor2minutes.com/

Ethics of Healthcare

One way to become better informed and empowered by your healthcare experience is to read the code(s) of ethics that pertain to the healthcare professionals that serve you. Here is the code of ethics for the American Nurses Association (ANA)- the largest nursing organization in the U.S.

Provision 1.

The nurse, in all professional relationships, practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and uniqueness of every individual, unrestricted by considerations of social or economic status, personal attributes, or the nature of health problems.

Provision 2.

The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient, whether an individual, family, group, or community.

Provision 3.

The nurse promotes, advocates for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient.

Provision 4.

The nurse is responsible and accountable for individual nursing practice and determines the appropriate delegation of tasks consistent with the nurse’s obligation to provide optimum patient care.

Provision 5.

The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal professional growth.

Provision 6.

The nurse participates in establishing, maintaining, and improving health care environments and conditions of employment conducive to the provision of quality health care and consistent with the values of the profession through individual and collective action.

Provision 7.

The nurse participates in the advancement of the profession through contributions to practice, education, administration, and knowledge development.

Provision 8.

The nurse collaborates with other health professionals and the public in promoting community, national, and international efforts to meet health needs.

Provision 9.

The profession of nursing, as represented by associations and their members, is responsible for articulating nursing values, for maintaining the integrity of the profession and its practice, and for shaping social policy.

source: http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNurses/Code-of-Ethics.aspx

No time for breakfast - no problem .

A common scenario among students and 9-5 er's alike is a skimpy (if not non-existant) breakfast. The first meal of the day often isn't the first priority of the day for people. Is it for you? Fact is, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Here are a couple reasons why:

1. it's the fuel for your day - the carbs, fats, proteins, minerals, and vitamins in a balanced breakfast help your body stay stable, energized, and focused for the day ahead.
2. it can prevent weight gain - yes, you read that correct! By not eating breakfast, your body's metabolism is signaled to store more fat (a sort of pseudo-starvation mode is inacted). Eating breakfast is part of the recipe for preventing obesity.
3. it can help lower stress on the heart and endocrine system, decreasing chances of developing diabetes or a heart attack

Try This: For those of you who are not convinced you have time to fit breakfast into your busy morning routine, here is a nutritious, easy-to-make, and low-cost breakfast option:

Equipment: blender

Ingredients: 1 to 2 cups juice, milk, water, or yogurt (can be frozen),1 banana, 1/2 to 1 cup oatmeal, any ripe seasonal, frozen, or dried fruits, 1/4 cup protein powder (any flavor, any brand), ice cubes

(Extras: Cinnamon, honey, wheat germ, peanut butter, chocolate, etc.)

Directions:The night before, set out your blender. Measure out the oatmeal, protein powder, dried fruits, or other nonliquid ingredients and place them in the blender. In the morning, just add fruits, liquid, ice, and extras. Turn on the blender. Mix for 30 seconds to 1 minute.

source: http://evolvels.elsevier.com

eating healthy . . . without breaking the bank.

In these challenging economic times, it's easy for our diets and lifestyle modification ambitions to "take the back seat."

With these proven tips, your health need not be part of the recession, and you can invest in your true wealth.

Eating healthy:

• Lowers disease risks
• Increases productivity
• Gives you more energy
• Makes you stronger

Healthy food is full of:

• Protein. The building blocks of muscles, needed for strength.
• Fat. A balanced intake of omega 3, 6 & 9.
• Veggies. All kinds, especially green fibrous veggies.
• Fruit. Full of vitamins.
• Water
• Whole grain food. Oats, rice, pasta, breads, …

Affordable Healthy Foods

Water - we gotta quit the soda - carry around a bottle of water wherever you go (think a "2 liter of water"/day = 8 cups)

Bananas - mother nature's superfruit

100% Whole-Wheat Bread (note: two slices have 180 calories, 8 grams protein, and 6 grams fiber ! )

Brown Rice

Oats (Old Fashioned or Quick) - great for quick breakfast + they fill me up good so I'm not hungry during class (add pinch of salt, some fruit, sugar, and/or syrup to make more interesting)

Frozen Vegetables (come in 12-ounce to 24-ounce bags that cost anywhere from $1.75 to $2.25 and contain 6-8 cups)

Canned Tuna (Quality protein, good for salads, with crackers, on sandwiches)

Eggs (keep in mind , the yellow part has more cholesterol, there are ways to filter it out and just have "egg whites")

Daily Multivitamin

Fish Oil - rich in Omega 3- helps to lower cholesterol

For Open Mind

Steam Your Vegetables -add some seasoning/soy sauce (I purchased my steamer for under 3 bucks!)

Kale Chips!

http://natashabarnes.lt11.com/2011/03/08/baked-kale-chips/

Tofu - it's good for you and can substitute a lot of meat products.

Buy in bulk

Buy generic not namebrand

Consider a Brita water filter/filter pitcher http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000DBIKG?ie=UTF8&tag=stronglcom-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0000DBIKG for tap water instead of buying plastic water bottles (saves money- e.g. $7 filter cleans 40 gallons water = several hundreds of plastic water bottles)

Recipes/Sources

http://www.cookinglight.com/food/quick-healthy/

http://www.hearthealthyonline.com/healthy-recipes/low-cholesterol-recipes/low-cholesterol-recipes_ss1.html

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/07/30/16-ways-to-eat-healthy-while-keeping-it-cheap/

... more to come + exercises/relaxation techniques!

welcome to the innaugural post on nursenick.blogspot.com !

This blog will explore a wide range of relevant health information, medical know-how, and some anatomy/physiology review. The purpose of this blog will be two part:

1. to gain resolution in the line of work I'll be headed for after completing my BSN degree
2. to supplement the readers' health knowledge in a quick, digestable (and hopefully fun) format.

Politics aside, the new national healthcare legislation has ramifications affecting us all; it can be confusing. Thus the first topic to be discussed in the next post will be national healthcare reform (http://www.healthcare.gov/)