Family and Consumer Sciences

Live Smart Ohio

Ohio State University Extension

heart health

LOL-Laugh Out Loud… for your heart!

I have been reading a lot about the benefits of laughter. One surprising benefit of laughter is a healthier heart! Laughter affects your nervous system, boosting your serotonin, dopamine, and endorphin levels,  but also it can be a great workout for the immune, lymph, and cardiovascular systems. When you laugh, your heart rate increases and […]

WRITTEN BY: Dr. Roseanne Scammahorn, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Darke County, Scammahorn.5@osu.edu

REVIEWED BY: Mist Harmon, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Photo by Silvia Cosimini from FreeImages

REFERENCES:

  • Abram, T. (2018). Laughter has serious benefits. Michigan State University - https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/laughter_has_serious_benefits
  • Edmonds, M. (2019, June 16). What is laughter therapy? https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/laughter-therapy.htm
  • Henry Ford LiveWell. (2019). How Laughter Benefits your Heart Health. https://www.henryford.com/blog/2019/03/how-laughter-benefits-heart-health#:~:text=When%20you%20laugh%2C%20your%20heart,of%20a%20heart%20disease%20diagnosis.
  • University of California San Francisco. (n.d.). Laughter Yoga. https://osher.ucsf.edu/public-classes/laughter-yoga
  • The University of St. Augustine. (2019). How laughter can relieve stress and Ideas to laugh it off. https://www.usa.edu/blog/how-laughter-can-relieve-stress/

Let’s have a heart to heart…

Since February is American Heart Month, now is the perfect time to look at health and lifestyle patterns and how they affect heart health. Heart disease is the number one cause of death for American women and men. This accounts for 1 in 4 deaths in the United States. Although there are many risk factors […]

WRITTEN BY: Shannon Carter, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Fairfield County

REVIEWED BY: Amy Habig, Program Specialist, Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program, Ohio State University Extension

SOURCES:

  • “How much physical activity do adults need?” June 2015. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • “How to eat healthy without dieting.” January 2017. The American Heart Association.

Sometimes You Feel Like a Nut…Sometimes You Want to Devour It!

I found it interesting that February has two holidays devoted to celebrating nuts. That’s kind of nutty, right?! February 16 is Almond Day and February 26 is Pistachio Day. Both of these nuts are some of my personal favorites. Nuts can be part of a healthy diet. Nuts contain monounsaturated fats, which are healthy fats […]

REVIEWED BY: Kate Homonai, Family and Consumer Sciences Program Coordinator, Ohio State University Extension Vinton County

The ABCSs of Heart Health

Heart disease and stroke are the two leading causes of death in America. One in three Americans suffer from high blood pressure. These factors have led the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to launch the Million Hearts Initiative. This initiative aims to prevent 1 million deaths from heart disease by the year […]

WRITTEN BY: Christine Kendle, MS, RD, LD, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension Tuscarawas County

REVIEWED BY: Kate Shumaker, MS, RD, LD, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension Holmes County

Are there Connections between Stress and Your Heart Health?

  Feeling Stressed? If so, you may feel aches and pains, feel your life is out of control, experience anger or feel depressed.  February is National Heart Health Month. Let’s explore some signs that may indicate that you are stressed. Do you overeat? Do you drink too much alcohol? Do you feel jittery? Are you […]

REVIEWED BY: Cheryl Barber-Spires, West Region SNAP Ed Program Specialist, Ohio State University Extension, spires.53@osu.edu

Just what is ‘quinoa’?

It is always fun for me to look around at a few new foods at the grocery store. Right now, groceries as well as restaurant menus are sporting a food that you might be unfamiliar with…..quinoa, pronounced ‘keenwa’. Just what is quinoa? It is not a grain, but an edible seed. It is not a […]

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