Thursday, February 24, 2011

Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables and Fruits: The Bottom Line
[Source: Harvard School of Public Health]

How Many Vegetables Are Needed Daily?

[Source: USDA]


Health benefits of vegetables
[Source: CDC]

Tips to help you eat vegetables
[Source: CDC]

Encouraging Your Child to Eat Fruits and Vegetables
[Source: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital]

For great ideas on adding vegetables and fruit to your diet, come in to the Patient Health Library to read the article "Eating your vegetables and fruit?" in the March 2011 issue of Consumer Reports on Health.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Resources on Nutrition and Cancer

Overview of Nutrition in Cancer Care
(from the National Cancer Institute)

Eating Hints: Before, During, and After Cancer Treatment
(from the National Cancer Institute)

Diet for Cancer Treatment Side Effects
(from UCSF Medical Center's online Health Library)

Nutrition & Cancer: The Whole Diet
(Podcast from the UCSF Ida & Joseph Friend Cancer Resource Center)



Nutrition Counseling & Workshops at UCSF
with registered dietician, Greta Macaire

Nutrition counseling services are open to UCSF cancer patients at no charge, although donations are appreciated. A dietitian is available Monday through Friday between 9 am and 5 pm. Appointments can be scheduled through any of the oncology practices.

See their quarterly calendar for upcoming events.
More information is available by calling the Ida & Joseph Friend Cancer Resource Center at 415.885.3693 or going online to http://cancer.ucsf.edu/crc/nutrition-counseling-and-workshops.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

High Blood Pressure and Heart Disease

High blood pressure (aka hypertension) usually has no symptoms, but it can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. You can control high blood pressure through healthy lifestyle habits and taking medicines, if needed. 

Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. It is also a major cause of disability. There are many different forms of heart disease. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This is called coronary artery disease and happens slowly over time. It's the major reason people have heart attacks.

You can help reduce your risk of heart disease by taking steps to control factors that put you at greater risk:
  • Control your blood pressure
  • Lower your cholesterol
  • Don't smoke
  • Get enough exercise
[Excerpted from the MedlinePlus links below]

High Blood Pressure
[From MedlinePlus]

Understanding Your Risk for Heart Disease
[From UCSF Medical Center Patient Education]
Note the section on Modifiable Risk Factors, to see what you can do to reduce your risk.

Heart Disease Resources
[From MedlinePlus]

Blood Pressure Medicines
[From MedlinePlus]