By Ilene Yalen, Registered Dietician, 7/13/10

According to the USFA, over 45% of on duty firefighter fatalities last year were the direct result of a heart attack or stroke. Acute and chronic stress, exposure to toxins and inadequate nutrition can put firefighters at a higher risk of heart disease. Along with getting adequate exercise and sleep, there are some dietary changes that can profoundly reduce your risk of heart disease.  

Avoid eating hydrogenated fats (Trans fats). These fats start as natural oils, but after exposure to hydrogen gas at high temperatures, they result in a product that is solid at room temperature. They do more harm to your heart health than animal fat, and they are abundant in everyday foods: peanut butter, margarine, pastries, crackers, chips, tortillas and breads. Don’t just look at label to assure there are no trans fats, look at the list of ingredients and stay away from anything that states “hydrogenated”.

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If you have any questions on this blog, please call Robin @ 520-795-1098 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

By WellAmerica, June 28, 2010

Yes, it is true!  An article recently appeared in Parade Magazine (www.parade.com) about dogs that are trained to “sniff out” cancer.  A black poodle named Captain Jennings and other dogs can sniff human breath and detect certain cancers.  Amazing!!!!!!  

 CA-125 Blood Test

By Robin Braun, Administrative Assistant 6/16/10

Ovarian cancer is a disease that rarely shows symptoms until it is too late to cure. It is so deadly because 80 percent of cases are found at an advanced stage. About 21,550 women were diagnosed with this disease and 14,600 died in the U.S. last year. When ovarian cancer is found early, five-year survival is 94 percent, according to the American Cancer Society.

Researchers have been testing CA-125, which is a protein in the blood that is high in many, but not all women with ovarian cancer. It can be high for many reasons including uterine fibroid, harmless cysts and even other types of cancer, so it is not accurate enough to be used alone for screening.

All that is needed to test the CA-125 levels is a simple blood test. WellAmerica presently uses this test and was the first to offer this test in the U.S. to firefighters.

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Vitamin and Mineral Supplements: Should You Be Taking One?

By Ilene Yalen, Registered Dietitian, 5/7/10

The answer depends on several factors. I am a strong advocate for obtaining as many nutrients as possible from the foods that you eat. Nature provides combinations of vitamins and minerals in every food, and we are just beginning to discover how they all work together in our metabolism to promote health and well being. In the last few decades, scientists have been discovering some of the countless benefits of natural compounds and anti-cancerous properties found in whole foods. Although we may be far from discovering all the compounds, and having all the answers, it is safe to say that eating a whole apple, is better than taking a pill that contains fiber and vitamin C. The key is to make the most effort to consume a well balanced, well varied diet, which contains all the nutrients you need. 

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Got Salt?

By Robin Braun, Administrative Assistant, 4/26/10

Are we getting too much salt in our daily diet?  According to researchers, Americans are getting almost 3 times the recommended daily allowance of salt in their diet.  A lot of this salt is coming from prepared and/or processed foods.  The recommended daily intake of salt for an individual is 2,400 mg or 1 teaspoon per day.  On average, Americans are consuming up to 6,000 mg of sodium per day!