Monday, November 17, 2014

In the News: a new heart health calculator and a study on the value of cooking at home


Just a quick post to share two newsworthy items. First, the Harvard School for Public Health released a new online calculator to estimate your risk of cardiovascular disease. I like that it focuses on lifestyle choices and modifiable risks. It's easy to complete and you don't need to know your blood pressure or cholesterol to get your results. 


Despite being one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the U.S. and worldwide, people seem to be less fearful of cardiovascular disease than cancer or Ebola. And, unlike some diseases almost all cardiovascular disease is preventable. The recommendations you receive after completing the survey include practical tips for improving your health. It's been so popular that the site sometimes gets overwhelmed (an encouraging sign), but keep trying. It's worth doing! 

Second, a new study from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health revealed that:

"People who frequently cook meals at home eat healthier and consume fewer calories than those who cook less, according to new research. The findings also suggest that those who frequently cooked at home -- six-to-seven nights a week -- also consumed fewer calories on the occasions when they ate out."
Certainly, not surprising, but it does confirm again that we're on the right track in planning a series of cooking classes for ASHA staff.

No comments: