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News Tips

IU Health & Wellness

Research and insights from Indiana University

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feb. 25, 2009

IU Health and Wellness for February discusses the following topics:

Peanut recall tips
Tips for aging athletes
Frugal travel

Still concerned about peanuts? The recall of food items containing peanuts and peanut paste produced by Peanut Corp. of America is complicated by the fact that it involves ingredients that are used in thousands of food items sold by more than 200 companies in the U.S. and abroad. Consumers are encouraged to examine the list of ingredients for their favorite cookies, cereal, ice cream and other snacks and pet food because the names of the goodies might not indicate they contain peanut products. Epidemiologist Greg Steele, associate professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine's Department of Public Health, offers the following tips for keeping salmonella, which can be deadly, off the menu:

• Visit the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Web site that includes a searchable database of recalled products. Steele said it can be "overwhelming" to look through the entire list, so he suggests searching for and writing down the brand names of routinely purchased items. The Web site, found at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm, contains other information about the recall.
• People who do not use computers should carefully read the ingredients of food items in their homes and in stores, although food affected by the recall should have already been pulled from store shelves. If they have questions about particular products, they should ask grocery store staff if the products are on the recall list.
• Take advantage of available public health resources. In Indiana, for example, the Indiana State Department of Health established a toll-free number (877-499-0017) to help residents with questions related to the peanut recall. The health department reported that after just one day of operation, the phone line had received more than 900 calls. The FDA can be reached toll-free by calling 888-723-3366. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a Web site, http://www.cdc.gov/socialmedia/, that makes information about the recall available in numerous formats, including video, mobile and e-mail. Information also can be obtained from the CDC by calling 800-232-4636 and TTY: 888-232-6348.
• To be "super" safe, avoid foods containing peanut ingredients for the time being. The list of recalled products includes no major national brands of jarred peanut butter found in grocery stores.

Steele said today's food supply involves a lot of major food distributors who are distributing products used in many other food products in the U.S. and abroad -- as in the case of PCA. A large and knowledgeable work force is needed to adequately inspect and monitor food safety. PCA peanut products have been linked to an outbreak of salmonella, which can be deadly. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal cramps.

Steele can be reached at 317-274-3174 and gsteele@iupui.edu. Top

Get movin' to slow down the hands of time. With age comes inevitable changes to our bodies -- muscle is lost and fat is gained. The secret to aging gracefully, said Meena Garg, M.D., assistant professor of clinical family medicine at the Indiana University Center for Sports Medicine, is to stay active. "The aging process is actually accelerated when we are inactive," Garg said. "As we age, balance and coordination may wane a bit. Muscles become less strong and bone cartilage wears down. These are all physiological changes, but they are not happening at the rate we think. Often, what we think of as aging is actually the result of a sedentary lifestyle." She offers the following tips:

• Stay active, but also flexible and strong. Garg recommends maintaining an exercise regimen that includes cardio exercise, stretching and resistance training. "When people think of physical fitness, they often think about running on the treadmill. There's more to fitness than that," said Garg. "Stretching helps to maintain flexibility around the joints and prevents stiffness. Resistance training maintains strength, coordination and body weight. It also takes pressure off the joints."
• Maintain proper nutrition. Garg said calcium and Vitamin D are especially important to the aging athlete. Calcium protects bone density and Vitamin D helps with calcium absorption as well as muscle performance and balance. It is recommended that adults over the age of 50 get 1,200 milligrams per day of calcium. "Many adults in this age group only get half of that with their typical diet," says Garg. "The best place to get calcium is from the diet, but if people can't do that, then we usually recommend supplements as needed." The National Osteoporosis Foundation recommends 800-1,000 international units of Vitamin D per day.
• Stay hydrated. "This is important for pretty much all body functions and also to prevent issues like dehydration and heat illness," Garg said. "Hydration is also a good way to maintain joint function and mobility."
• Pay attention to injuries. As a person ages, he or she experiences a greater risk for injury. Connective tissue becomes less flexible and bones become less dense and more susceptible to fractures. "There is normal soreness and then there are signs of injury," said Garg. "Pay attention to your body."
• Use appropriate equipment and protective gear. "It all depends on the activity you are doing," says Garg. "You do need good shoes, though." Garg also recommends sun block for outside activities as well as proper protection from the weather.
• Physical activity is good for your mental health, too. "Regular physical activity has been shown to protect against mild cognitive impairment," says Garg. "Exercise has also been known to improve mood and be effective as part of a treatment strategy for depression."

Garg can be reached at gargm@iupui.edu or at 317-278-0300. Top

Travel on the cheap. To save money on vacation, do some homework. Looking up deals and planning carefully can make trips more affordable and less stressful. "There are some simple things you can do to save money, you just need to do some research," says Amanda Cecil, assistant professor in the Department of Tourism, Conventions and Event Management at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

• Cecil recommends that when traveling to a popular destination, try going during the tourist off-season. This is usually mid-July, around Christmas and anytime during the school calendar year that school is in session.
• Being flexible about the day the vacation begins and ends can also save money, as room rates and airfare can vary dramatically from one day to another. Staying in a condo or apartment is usually cheaper than a hotel room, and preparing meals rather than eating out can greatly reduce expenses.
• When considering an amusement park or museum, look for discount tickets, package deals, or go on days with reduced prices.
• Youth hostels, couch surfing and bed and breakfasts can be great travel alternatives when seeking inexpensive travel, but Cecil cautions travelers to ensure "they know what they are getting into" and have the appropriate expectations. They could be required to perform daily chores and to share a room with a stranger at a youth hostel, for example. These Web sites have more information about hostels, http://www.hihostels.com/; and couch surfing, http://www.couchsurfing.com/, which involves an international network of travelers and hosts willing to open their homes to members of the network.
• For transportation, more and more people are choosing to drive instead of fly, which also eliminates the trouble of getting a rental car. Mass-transit is also becoming more popular, with trains and buses going to popular destinations at times convenient for travelers. "More people going to Chicago are taking the bus," Cecil said.
• Local adventures can be fun, too. Many families stay local or in state, going on day-trips or weekend getaways. Staying close to home can provide travelers with a new perspective of where they live while letting them visit their normal surroundings without worrying about work or school. "People are starting to take advantage of what's in their own back yard," Cecil said.

Cecil can be reached at 317-278-8569 and akcecil@iupui.edu. Top

For additional assistance with these media tips, contact Tracy James, University Communications, at 812-855-0084 and traljame@indiana.edu.

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