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3050 Prospect Avenue
Kansas City, MO 64128
816.701.3482

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Health & Wellness Spotlight

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Kirby Randolph, Ph.D.

Mental health problems are common and relief is available. Many people delay seeking help because of the stigma surrounding mental illness. These delays may result in people only seeking behavioral health services after they have had a crisis. For example, it has been estimated that half of the people who seek help for depression have delayed seeking help for eight years since they experienced the onset of symptoms.

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Did You Know?

Men who eat two or more servings of tomato products a week average a 35 percent reduction in prostate cancer risk.

Cycling increases blood flow and reduces your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.

People who regularly walked their dogs reduced their risk of developing diabetes by 30% and depression by 35%.

Studies indicate that the flu vaccine has been shown to prevent influenza in 70-90% of healthy adults under the age of 65 years.

Eggs contain protein that is important for brain and muscle development.

Smoking is the single most common cause of preventable deaths. Each year, more than 430,000 people die as a result of a smoking-related disease. Yet, more than 50 million continue to smoke, including more than 3 million teens.

The CDC recommends washing your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds to help prevent the spread of cold and flu. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.

The antioxidants found in blueberries can help keep your brain functioning correctly. They are also high in potassium and vitamin C. Not only can they lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, they are also anti-inflammatory.

To prevent spreading germs, do not use your hands to cover your cough or sneeze. Instead use a tissue or the inside of your elbow.

Eating salmon once a week can lower the risk of heart attacks by half and also lower blood pressure.

Dancing can improve your mood. It is an intense form of exercise and when you exercise your body releases endorphins, a “feel good” chemical in your blood stream.

Exercise can lower blood pressure, improve heart function, prevent muscle loss and improve brain function

On average, every minute of walking can extend your life 1.5 to 2 minutes. That’s a 2 to 1 trade-off.

Just 1/2 cup of broccoli a day protects you from a number of cancers, particularly cancers of the lung, stomach colon and rectum.

Cooking together can offer both family and nutritional benefits. Research shows that children are more open to trying new or healthy foods when they help prepare them.

Engaging in meditation regularly can help you achieve a reduction in blood pressure and heart rate.

Bowling offers enhanced flexibility and range of motion and can burn between 170-300 calories.

Bananas, strawberries, and oranges are high in fiber and can provide health benefits such as lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease.

An apple a day can keep the doctor away. Apples contain vitamins A and C, which are effective at lowering cholesterol levels and the risk of cancer.

Drinking a glass of pomegranate juice a day for one year reduced blood pressure and slowed down the bad LDL cholesterol oxidation.

Participating in three hours of tennis per week can cut your risk of early death from any cause by 50%.

The Health & Wellness Center at the Lucile H. Bluford Branch is a partnership between The Kansas City Public Library, Truman Medical Centers, and the Health Sciences Institute of Metropolitan Community Colleges - Penn Valley. Funding for the project was made possible in part by a grant from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.