Sugar-Packed Drinks May Not Raise Your Waistline, But They Are Raising Your Risk for Heart Disease!

 NuHealth Women's Care
Nassau University Medical Center
2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554
www.nuhealth.net     516-572-5809

Large studies in the past, including the ongoing Framingham Heart Study, now in its 63^rd year, have linked drinking sugar-sweetened beverages to heart disease. Even if the sugary drinks aren’t raising the number on your scale, they’re still raising your risk for heart disease.

All sugar-packed drinks, including sweet teas, sodas and coffee drinks that look (and sound) like desserts, raise women’s risk for heart disease. According to the findings presented at the American Heart Association’s meeting yesterday, women who drank two or more sweet beverages a day were at an increased risk for heart disease, even if they did not gain weight over the five year study.

“Women who drank two or more sugary beverages per day were four times more likely to develop high triglyceride levels than women who drank fewer sugar-sweetened beverages. Women with the liquid sugar habit were also more likely to develop abnormal levels of fasting glucose, a sign they could be developing diabetes,” (Today.MSNBC.msn.com). 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 26.8 million Americans have heart disease, which ranks as the nation's number one killer. But, that hasn't stopped Americans from drinking an average of 50 gallons of sweetened beverages a year, per person! 

The article published by Today Health (Today.MSNBC.msn.com) reported that “Daily blasts of too-high blood sugar can disrupt metabolism in several ways” according to Dr. Stephen Devries, a cardiologist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. “High sugar levels increase triglycerides, lower good cholesterol and prompt the body to make an especially damaging, smaller molecule of bad cholesterol. Too much sugar also raises levels of inflammation, another risk factor heart disease,” (Today.MSNBC.msn.com). 

The article also notes that “Unlike the fat right beneath the skin that can be sucked out by liposuction, the fat around the organs in the center of the body produces hormones that make us more likely to get diabetes, higher blood pressure, higher triglycerides," (Today.MSNBC.msn.com). 

Kick your sugary habit, girls! Not only will it increase your waistline, it puts you at a higher risk for heart disease.

Check Out a Gym Before Joining! Some strategies to make sure you're choosing the right gym for you!

 NuHealth Women's Care
Nassau University Medical Center
2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554
www.nuhealth.net     516-572-5809

Gym memberships are expensive these days! Prices range from $10 per month all the way to $300+! In addition to your monthly fees, many clubs charge a sign-up fee that could range from $50 to $200! With this type of expense, make sure you check out a gym before committing to sign up.  

Checking out a gym before signing up is the best way to tell if it is the right place for you to join! Maybe you’re looking for morning classes when the kids are in school, or night classes to attend on your way home from work. Maybe you’re not looking for classes at all but just a few machines to get you moving. Perhaps you’re interested in hiring a personal trainer but need a babysitting service for your toddler. These are all things to look into before signing on the dotted line! 

There are many ways to go about checking out a gym before signing up. Here are a few ideas you can use to get inside and see things for yourself, provided by WomensFitness.com.

• Visit the club with a friend. Many health clubs offer free passes to members so that they can bring a friend to the facility periodically.

• Get a day pass. See if the gym will allow you to use the facility for a day or pay a small fee to try out the equipment. You may need to sign a waiver to do so.

• Try out a class. Some health clubs will allow non-members to take exercise classes or sample circuit training there for a per class fee. If you can take advantage of this, it is a great way to get a feel for the gym and see if you like it.

• Consider a trial membership. Some gyms will offer summer only memberships or have trial memberships for potential customers. It doesn't hurt to check.

• Ask for a tour. Most gyms will give you a basic tour of their facility at no cost.

• Ask around. If you are not able to get inside the gym for a look, ask others for information on the place. Be sure to include specific questions on anything you are particularly curious about.

NuHealth Foundation's 5th Annual Heroes in Health Gala Brings Great Success

  NuHealth Women's Care
Nassau University Medical Center
2201 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow, NY 11554
www.nuhealth.net     516-572-5809

The NuHealth Foundation’s 5^th Annual Heroes in Health Gala raised a nearly 12% net gain at a time when many non-profits are experiencing fundraising shortfalls. 

The Heroes in Health Gala was held on October 26^th at Oheka Castle, bringing together over 400 guests.

NuHealth’s Foundation Executive Director, Deidra Parrish Williams, credits a “stellar year at NuHealth and an innovative fundraising approach for the night’s success.”

The innovative fundraising approach Williams speaks of is the sophisticated technology system for its silent auction that has been used only once before on Long Island. “Upon arrival, every attendee received a pre-programmed iTouch device pre-loaded with each of the auction’s items. Each guest’s device enabled them to bid digitally from anywhere in the Castle, receive instant updates when their bid was topped, and increase their bid just by tapping their iTouch screen. Some items had as many as 20 bids, resulting in net proceeds approximately 1000% higher than the Foundation’s 2010 silent auction,” (PressRelease).

Williams said, “our progress has been very evident… this year, we opened Long Island’s most advanced Emergency Department, achieved Center of Excellence status for our Bariatric Department, earned the highest marks possible for A. Holly Patterson Nursing Home, and several of our doctors were named tops in their fields by US News and World Report. Our vendors and community partners are proud to support our progress,” (Press Release).

To read the entire press release, click HERE.