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“Leave all the afternoon for exercise and recreation, which are as necessary as reading. I will rather say more necessary because health is worth more than learning.”
—Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President (1801-09) and author of the Declaration of Independence
Fruit of the Month
Peaches & Nectarines
Did you know? Peaches orginated from China. Nectarines—a subspecies of the peach family—lack the gene for fuzz.
Selection:
Choose peaches with firm, fuzzy skins that yield to gentle pressure when ripe. Nectarines should be firm with a smooth skin. Avoid blemishes.
Storage:
Store unripe fruit in paper bag until ripe, then store at room temperature for use within 2-3 days.
Nutrition Benefits:
Peaches and nectarines are fat free, sodium free, cholesterol free, and a good source of vitamin C.
Recipes:
California Fresh Fruit Kebobs with Lemon and Cayenne
Santa Fe Chilled Nectarine Soup
Go to the Fruits & Veggies Database to find more recipes for using peaches and nectarines in your everyday meals.
Ah, Nuts!
Almonds
Did you know? This nut is in the same plant family as peaches and apricots.
Storage:
Store under cool, dry conditions. May refrigerate shelled nuts up to one year.
Nutrition Benefits:
Raw almonds are sodium free, an excellent source of manganese and vitamin E, and a good source of magnesium, copper, phosphorous and fiber.
Nuts are important to your overall diet—barring any allergies, of course. Choose nuts as a snack, on salads, or in main dishes. Use them to replace meat or poultry, but not in addition to these items as they contain lots of calories.
Go to the Recipe Database to find how to use almonds in your meals.
Source: FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org
The purpose of UWellness is to inspire healthier living among University of Washington faculty, staff and their families. It is published on the first and third Tuesday of the month. Comments and suggestions may be addressed to the editor at: benefits@u.washington.edu
To see past issues, click here.
Exercise and Explore
Enjoy Your National Parks
July is National Parks and Recreation Month. City and state parks provide spectacular regional and waterfront parks, trails, playgrounds, and treasured environmental areas for your enjoyment. Here are some ideas for getting the most out of these gems:
• Plan a family outing at a local golf course.
• Go to your local park to view Sirius, the dog star and brightest star in the sky.
• Play tennis at your local park or recreation center.
• Rent a boat or find a fishing pier.
• Find a pool for indoor or outdoor swimming or wading.
• Escape from the city noise and enjoy one of the many colorful and fragrant gardens.
• Experience a bird watching adventure.
• Enjoy a wilderness hike.
• Check out a lawn bowling course.
• Go running or jogging.
• Take your children to a play area.
• Take a fisbee and your four-legged friend to an off-leash area.
• Pack a healthy picnic and take your family to a picnic ground , the zoo or attend an art or music festival.
• Grab your sun gear and head for the beach.
• Grab your bikes, helmets, and head for the Burke Gilman Trail.
• And for people who are 50+ and enjoy walking, Sound Steps is for you.
Resources:
University of Washington Recreational Sports
Seattle Parks and Recreation Summer Guide 2008
Tacoma Metro Parks
Everett Parks and Recreation
Washington State Parks in the Northwest Region
Group Health Bicycle Saturdays and Sundays
Grab your bike and enjoy a four-mile ride through Lake Washington Boulevard and around Seward Park. Seattle Parks will close the Boulevard between Mount Baker Beach and Seward Park to motorized vehicles from approximately 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 20, August 9 and 17, and September 13 and 21. The view is great and there are many places to stop for a swim or a picnic. Cyclists can enter the route at any point; there is no fee.
Sponsored by: Group Health Cooperative and Seattle Parks and Recreation Department
Water Safety
Stay Afloat
An alarming U.S. statistic shows that over 1,500 children and teens drown every year. But we can prevent drownings if we do our part. Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center has lots of useful information and resources on drowning prevention and water safety.
Also, did you know that a Washington State law went into effect this year to help improve recreational boating safety? Boaters ages 12 years and older are required to pass a boating safety course or an equivalency exam before operating a motor boat of 15 horsepower or greater. Learn more.
Low-Cost Life Jacket Sales
Saturday, July 19, August 16, and September 20
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Wearing a life jacket saves lives. Get yours this summer through the low-cost Life Jacket Sales Program at Evans Pool. The pool is located at 7201 East Green Lake Drive North. Seattle Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Fisheries Supply, Rehab Without Walls, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary, is sponsoring the program. More information.
Personal Health Records
For UMP and Aetna Members
Starting August 1, Uniform Medical Plan (UMP) and Aetna Public Employees Plan members can maintain an online personal health record through ActiveHealth. This service has several advantages. First, it allows you to get helpful information related to medical conditions. Second, if you have certain chronic health conditions, it gives you telephone-based nurse coaching to help you manage your care and meet your health goals. Third, you and your doctors receive suggestions for improving your care based on your claims data and the latest medical knowledge. And finally, you help the environment by reducing paperwork associated with health records.
The ActiveHealth program was started 10 years ago and now has over 12 million people users. While it’s new to UMP and Aetna, it has been thoroughly tested and improved over its 10-year history.
Those concerned about security and privacy issues should know that member health information is stored on a secure server and meets all federal requirements for the protection of personal health information. No one (e.g., doctor, family) can access the information gathered by ActiveHealth without your permission. Personal information will not be shared with a member’s employer and will not affect health benefits. Participation in any aspect of ActiveHealth services is voluntary. For more information, contact ActiveHealth at 1-888-227-6539 after August 1.
For Group Health and Kaiser Members
While ActiveHealth services are only for UMP and Aetna subscribers, members of Group Health and Kaiser have access to similar programs, including electronic medical records and information about conditions available via computer, specialized programs for persons with chronic conditions, and best practice guidance to doctors generated by unique member medical information. Group Health Cooperative members should contact www.mygrouphealth.org. Kaiser Permanente members should contact www.kp.org.
Wellness Tools
2008 Health Risk Assessments
Have you completed your 2008 online Health Risk Assessment (HRA) through your health plan yet? If not, here are five good reasons for completing this simple, confidential survey asking about your health habits including diet, exercise, and preventative-care screenings.
- It’s confidential. Your health information is confidential and protected by law. The University of Washington will not have access to the results of your Health Risk Assessment (HRA).
- It’s fast and easy. Go online and spend just 15-20 minutes answering the HRA questionnaire about your current health status.
- It’s free. There is no cost to you for taking an HRA. In fact, if you are a Uniform Medical Plan participant, you can receive a $30 gift card for doing so.
- It’s useful. After you complete the survey, you immediately receive a personalized report. From this, you can prioritize your next steps to improve your health as well as learn how to take action and get involved with wellness programs and services.
- It may be done on work time. The Governor has requested that state agency leaders encourage their employees to participate in the HRAs and allow state employees reasonable time to take their HRA online while at work. The issue of state employees completing the survey on state time has been cleared by the State Ethics Board.