The American Heart Association, well known for its efforts to educate Americans about the best ways to achieve heart health, began a new tradition several years ago with National Eating Healthy Day.

It falls on the first Wednesday of November, but don’t despair if you missed it! The first week of November is a good time to consider the connection of nutrition and heart health, before the holiday season gets underway.

A simple way to improve your nutrition is making a conscious effort to enjoy more fruits and vegetables at all of your eating occasions. You can add more heart-healthy produce to your diet with these easy, quick tips:

  • Power up breakfast with some dried fruit in your morning cup of oatmeal, like dried cherries and apricots.
  • Make that morning snack a small, crisp apple and a light cheese stick – produce and protein is the perfect combination!
  • Add some extra frozen or canned veggies to your lunchtime soup, or mix bagged, chopped salads with romaine lettuce for a quick power salad. Dress with balsamic vinegar and a drizzle of olive oil to keep the taste high and calories low.
  • Hummus and cut veggies make for a flavorful, plant-powered, and fiber-rich afternoon snack.
  • Double up on dinner vegetables – double servings of the same item or mix and match fresh/ready-to eat vegetables with your favorite cooked ones.

Pumpkins are plentiful this time of year, so we encourage you to visit https://news.sphp.com/wellness/livesmart-be-sure-to-try-the-pumpkin-pie-this-thanksgiving/ for easy recipes to deliciously integrate the power of pumpkin into your diet.

Best wishes to everyone for a healthy, produce-rich holiday season this year!

St. Peter’s Health Partners has a FREE physician referral and information line, which provides information about St. Peter’s physicians and services: 518-525-2CARE (518-525-2227). You can also visit http://www.sphp.com/find-a-physician to find a provider at one of the many practices within St. Peter’s Health Partners Medical Associates.

Epilepsy – Know the Signs, Be Ready to Help

 1 in 10 people will have a seizure in their lifetime. Do you know what to do?

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month. The Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York (EFNENY) would like to raise awareness of epilepsy to support the 215,000 New Yorkers living with this condition.

Epilepsy is diagnosed when someone has had two or more unprovoked seizures, at least 24 hours apart. Seizures can happen to anyone, of any age, at any time. 1 in 26 people will be diagnosed with epilepsy in their lifetime, and you can learn how to help.

EFNENY provides education and support services for people affected by epilepsy as well as the communities within its 22-county service area. We invite everyone to join us on the first Wednesday of every month, from 3 to 4:30 p.m., to participate in a virtual Seizure Recognition and First Aid certification training course. This course offers the basics of seizures, recognizing different seizure types, and provides information on what to do if you were to witness a seizure.

Our health educator is also available to provide training to any school, agency, or organization who is interested in learning more. For more information, contact Rachel Yattaw at (518) 456-7501 or ryattaw@epilepsyneny.org; you can also visit https://www.epilepsy.com/local/northeastern-new-york

Health Beat with Benita Zahn

An estimated 3.4 million Americans have been diagnosed with epilepsy. Add to that, 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy at some point during their lifetime.

It’s more common than autism, Parkinson’s Disease, MS and cerebral palsy combined. Yet, stigma still surrounds this disease; it can keep people silent and may prevent them from seeking the support or care they need to live their healthiest life.

To change that, the Epilepsy Foundation has launched a nationwide effort – Epilepsy Awareness Month – celebrated each November. The goal is to get us all talking about education, safety and support for this population so they have better health outcomes.

To that end, the Northeastern New York chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation is encouraging families with epilepsy to share their journey of living with epilepsy, any stigma they have experienced, and any challenges they have overcome. They can share their story by emailing jgarab@epilepsyneny.org. Stigma thrives in silence, so speak out in support of all those living with epilepsy.