Ms. Matthews' Health Page

Nutrition

Good nutrition is essential for healthy living. Ensuring you have a healthy diet and eat the right foods is important to good eyesight, heart function, digestion, and energy. Nutritional supplements can help to add the needed vitamins and minerals that people should partake in every day. Foods rich in protein, potassium, B vitamins, vitamin C, and fiber are all key to proper and complete nutrition.

  • My Pyramid – Website offering an up to date food pyramid, diet guide, and nutritional information.

  • International Food Pyramids – Examples of food pyramids from around the world.

  • Controlling Food Portions – Important questions and answers about maintaining proper food portions and eating the right about of foods.

  • Nutrition Data – Helpful guide to eating properly and tracking the foods you eat.


Hygiene

Good hygiene is essential to good health. Brushing teeth and gums regularly helps to prevent gum disease and cavities. Showering every day helps to keep our bodies clean and free of harmful bacteria. Using products like deodorant helps to prevent body odor and helps to boost self-esteem. Hygiene should not only be practiced for vanity reasons, but also to help maintain overall good, clean health.

  • Hygiene Basics – Understanding the science behind greasy hair, smelly armpits, and more.

  • 20 Facts About Hygiene – A list of 20 different hygiene-related fun facts.

  • Hand Hygiene – Information about why and how washing your hands helps prevent the spread of disease.

  • Germs and Hygiene – How hygiene plays a role in the spread of germs, and what you can do to prevent it.


Exercise

Getting the proper amount of exercise each day can do wonders for your overall health. Even something as simple as taking a brisk walk once per day can keep your heart, muscles, and bones strong and healthy. Doctors say at least thirty minutes of daily exercise can add years to your life and may even help to prevent certain forms of cancer. Anything from jogging or bike riding to rock climbing and more aggressive aerobic exercise will make a huge difference in your life and well-being.


  • Exercise and Fitness – Information about how exercise is beneficial to your heart no matter what age you are.

  • How it Benefits – Seven ways that regular exercise can help benefit your overall physical health.

  • What it Can do for You – More in-depth information about how daily exercise can improve fitness and physical health.

  • Videos – A few videos and articles about how exercise can help you. This includes tips and tricks for daily exercises.

  • How Dedicated Are YOU? – Possibly the most rigorous athletic experience, the Ironman Triathlon. Think you could do it?


Drugs/Alcohol
Using drugs and alcohol can have serious detrimental effects on your health. Too much alcohol can cause liver and heart disease, and you run the risk of drinking and driving, which kills thousands of people each year. Excessive drug use can lead to addiction, which often results in serious health problems including death. Learning about the harmful effects of these things and understanding how to prevent addiction are the keys to avoiding them and staying wise and healthy.


  • National Institute on Drug Abuse – Resource for people with drug addictions as well as family members; includes resources for rehabilitation and counseling.

  • Alcoholism Q&A – Includes facts, statistics, and other information about alcoholism.

  • About Drug Addiction – Information about drug addiction, and how it can be prevented.

  • Alcoholics Anonymous – Official website for the organization designed to help those with alcohol problems.


Safe Sex
Practicing safe sex is absolutely imperative in today's world. With the spread of the AIDS virus along with a myriad of other sexually transmitted diseases, it is more important than ever to be sure to use a condom when participating in sexual activity. Protection against these diseases is important for yourself as well as the health of your sexual partner. Many free clinics offer testing for sexually transmitted diseases, so that people can be sure they are disease free.