June 2021 Newsletter
This weekend is Father's Day (just in case any of you forgot- Call your dad!) and we celebrate the men that raised us and shaped our lives. During the entire month of June, medical professionals are bringing awareness to men's health and the particular challenges that they face. At Good Samaritan, we want to promote a safe, healthy lifestyle for men and boys! That includes getting an annual check-up with their health care provider, eating nutritiously, talking about their mental health, and more.

This year, Men’s Health Network (MHN) has decided to focus on the theme of a new decade. With a new decade comes the opportunity to both look back and look forward. This time for both reflection and prospection gives us all a unique occasion to evaluate how we have been dealing with our health, both physical and mental. Men, especially, should take this time to do just that. In general, men are less likely to take care of themselves and their health than women (Brott). In addition, a Cleveland Clinic survey in 2019 found that 82% of men report trying to stay healthy and live longer for those who rely on them, yet only 50% engage in preventive care. Men cited embarrassment, lack of convenience, not wanting to hear a bad diagnosis, and being told as children not to complain about medical problems as reasons for pushing off a visit to their health care provider (Wheeler, 2019). Partly as a result of dedicating less time to their personal health, male life expectancy is about 5 years less than women (Brott).

Now, in 2021 and the new decade, it is time for that to change. Men of every age need to be taking the time to focus on their mental and physical well-being. From 19 to 90, even if he is in “ perfect” shape, a man should still be making routine appointments with his providers. There are several times in his life a man should be getting routine appointments with his health care provider to ensure that he is maintaining good health. To coincide with the new decade and renewed responsibility for health, especially in the time of Coronavirus, here’s a breakdown of each decade of a man’s life, and when he should be getting certain check-ups with his healthcare provider:
Sources:
  • Brott, A., & Men's Health Network Advisory Board. (n.d.). Blueprint for Men's Health: A Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle. Washington, D.C.: Men's Health Network.
  • Wheeler, T. (2019, September 5). Cleveland Clinic Survey: Men will do Almost Anything to Avoid Going to the Doctor. Retrieved April 16, 2020, from https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2019/09/04/clevelandclinic-surveymen-will-do- almost-anything-to-avoid-going-to-the-doctor/
Enjoy this heart-healthy, diabetic-friendly recipe from Louise Brown, Good Samaritan's diabetic nutritionist.
Chicken Cheddar Rice with Asparagus
Who doesn't love chicken and rice? This recipe will be a family favorite. Plus it sneaks in some non-starchy vegetables!
Ingredients
  • Nonstick cooking spray 1
  • Chicken thigh meat 8 oz
  • uncooked brown rice 1 cup
  • chicken bouillon granules 2 tsp
  • fresh asparagus tips 2 cups
  • cheddar cheese 2 oz
  • water 2 cups
  • onion 1 1/2 cups
  • medium garlic cloves 4 cloves
  • thyme leaves 1/2 tsp
  • salt 1/2 tsp
Directions
  1. Coat a 3 1/2 to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place the water, chicken, onion, rice garlic, chicken bouillon, and thyme in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on high for 1 1/2 hours or on low for 3 hours.
  2. Turn off the heat fluff the rice with a fork. Stir in the asparagus. Cover and let stand 10 minutes. Stir in the salt and sprinkle with the cheese
June is not only a month that we recognize the amazing men and fathers in our lives. Medical professionals also use this month to bring awareness to Alzheimer's disease and show support for the family members and caregivers of those who have this disease. Alzheimer's is the most common type of dementia and affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is a progressive disease that worsens with time and there currently is no cure.

Although there is no cure there are many things that you can do to help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's or slow the progression of the disease if you have been diagnosed -- maintaining strong social connections, keeping mentally active, regular physical exercise, and a heart-healthy diet. There are many eating plans out there, but one that is recommended specifically to prevent dementia and age-related cognitive decline is the MIND Diet. MIND specifically stands for the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay. It combines aspects of the Mediterranean diet and the DASH diet to create an eating plan focused on brain health. It focuses on regular eating more servings of 9 proven brain-defending foods daily:
  • Green Leafy Vegetables - 1 serving
  • Other vegetables - at least 1 serving per day (limit starchy vegetables)
  • Nuts - 5 servings or more per week
  • Berries - 2 servings per week
  • Beans - 4 servings per week
  • Olive Oil - to be used as your main cooking and prep oil
  • Whole grains - 3 servings per day (focusing on grains that are minimally processed.
  • Fish - 1 serving a week (focusing on fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, herring, and sardines)
  • Poultry - 2 servings a week (turkey or chicken, but not fried)
See the below diagram with tips on correct portion sizes.
The MIND diet works by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidative stress occurs when unstable molecules called free radicals to accumulate in the body in large quantities. This often causes damage to cells. The brain is especially vulnerable to this type of damage. Inflammation is your body’s natural response to injury and infection. But if it’s not properly regulated, inflammation can also be harmful and contribute to many chronic diseases. Together, oxidative stress and inflammation can be quite detrimental to the brain. In recent years, they’ve been the focus of some interventions to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s disease. Following the Mediterranean and DASH diets has been associated with lower levels of oxidative stress and inflammation. Because the MIND diet is a hybrid of these two diets, the foods that make up the MIND diet probably also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. The antioxidants in berries and the vitamin E in olive oil, green leafy vegetables, and nuts are thought to benefit brain function by protecting the brain from oxidative stress. Additionally, the omega-3 fatty acids found in fatty fish are well-known for their ability to lower inflammation in the brain and have been associated with slower loss of brain function 
Appointments are full but a waiting list is available.
You can enroll in Marketplace health coverage through August 15 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emergency. More people than ever before qualify for help paying for health coverage, even those who weren’t eligible in the past. Learn more about new, lower costs. To find out if you qualify visit https://www.healthcare.gov/! Good Samaritan can even help you apply!
Upcoming Events


Wednesdays at 5:00 PM and Thursdays at 12:00 PM - Addiction Support Group Meetings
July 5th- Clinic Closed for July 4th
July 21st, September 1st, and October 1st - Mammogram Mobile Program