Healthy Buncombe
The Eat Smart Move More Coalition
Healthier living is high on the agenda for 2010 in Asheville
January 17, 2010
Asheville Citizen-Times By Nanci Bompey
If 2009 was the year Western North Carolina realized it needed to get healthy, 2010 could be the year the region starts taking bigger steps in the direction of good health.
More people in the region now recognize obesity as a top health concern and steps need to be taken to help people eat healthier and exercise more, experts say.
“I think we are making progress,” said Keith Ray, director of the N.C. Center for Health and Wellness at UNC Asheville. “Anytime you are talking about behavior change, the first step is awareness that a problem exists.”
It's become hard to overlook the obesity problem. Two-thirds of adults and one-third of children in Buncombe County are obese or overweight, according to 2008 figures from the county health department.
Obesity was identified as one of the major health concerns in Buncombe County in 2005 and continues to be an important focus of the health department. Experts say the obesity epidemic didn't happen overnight and it is not going to go away quickly. Large-scale success — declining rates of obesity and chronic disease — is still years or even decades away, but now is the time to lay the groundwork.
“The first thing we have got to do if we want to change direction is slow the ship down,” Ray said. “That is what we are doing.”
Community support
Focusing primarily on individual behavior, while important, is becoming a thing of the past, said Terri March, coordinator of Healthy Buncombe. Experts now realize that the key to changing these behaviors on a larger scale is to focus on how communities can support healthier lifestyles.
That means implementing policies that build sidewalks and bike lanes, and improving access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
In 2009, active transportation – biking, walking and public transit – became a more prominent issue and March hopes 2010 will bring policies that support more active ways of getting around town. Stimulus funds have already been allocated to support better bike and pedestrian infrastructure.
Local groups also plan to continue efforts to get more fresh fruits and vegetables into schools and expand access to tailgate markets and other ways of getting fresh food.
“It's not so much about the obesity,” March said. “It's about the behaviors and what our community can do to support healthy behaviors.”
As part of its 100th anniversary this year, Park Ridge Hospital plans to offer programs and presentations that focus on overall wellness and healthy lifestyles. The hospital plans to sponsor a visit from Dan Buettner, author of “The Blue Zones,” as a first step toward making this an area where people live longer and healthier lives. Buettner's book examines regions of the world where people live especially long lives.
The YMCA's Pioneering Healthier Communities initiative, a group comprised of local leaders, is working on creating policies that make it easier to make healthy choices at school, work and home.
The group received a $30,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to support physical activity initiatives. They also plan to develop a community healthy living index that measures physical activity and nutrition in the community and will allow groups making changes to see if they are working.
“We are talking about being creative in shifting into this new area of public policy change and making the healthier option the easier option,” said Kristen Weaver, director of wellness advancement for the YMCA of WNC.
Buncombe County is also working on completing its community health assessment, a survey of the health of the community performed every four years. This year, the county will include questions about accessibility to fresh food and physical activity.
“Choices an individual makes have a huge impact on their health behaviors, but we also need to look at what choices are available,” said J. Nelson-Weaver, executive director of Health Partners. “We're trying to be more strategic about what paths to take.”
These are just some of the efforts going on around WNC in combating obesity. Working to bring together the dozens of groups working to fight obesity is one goal of Health Partners this year. The N.C. Center for Health and Wellness at UNCA also plans to work with child obesity advocacy groups statewide to help them their message across to local and state policy makers.
“Big picture success is years away,” Nelson-Weaver said. But “if you never start you never get anywhere. If you wait to see the whole staircase, it's too late.”
Pioneering Healthier Communities awarded $30,000
The Asheville Area Pioneering Healthier Communities (PHC) was awarded $30,000 by the CDC. Healthy Buncombe is a key partner in PHC along with other government, healthcare, education, and community leaders from both Buncombe and McDowell Counties. The organization is focusing on workplace, infrastructure, and policy change to encourage citizens of WNC to be more physically active.
“The mission of Pioneering Healthier Communities is vital and timely. It’s exciting to see the first steps of collaborative efforts to create a sustainable and healthy environment in our community. As our country discusses federal health care reform, it is critical that citizens have opportunities to take responsibility for their wellness. The CDC grant will help us provide those opportunities,” notes Holly Jones, PHC Committee member and Buncombe County Commissioner. These resources will be used to support physical activity in Asheville, Buncombe and McDowell Counties. Click here for more information.
Foods that Fight
Continuing with our topic of using foods as tools to boost the strength of your body systems, I would like to discuss immunity boosters. Throughout the ages, people have used different foods and herbs to strengthen the body's core defense system, the immune system. The Greeks believed in the power of olive oil to cure almost any illness; including neuralgia and fever. During the Middle Ages, medicine was derived almost chiefly from herbs, like skullcap which was used as a headache remedy. Today we know that foods containing vitamin C, catechins, and probiotics are valuable tools that can be used to boost your immunity.
We all know that oranges are a good source of vitamin C, but did you know that strawberries are too? You can also get your C from dark leafy greens, sweet potatoes and cantaloupe. In fact, most fruits and vegetables have this immunity booster inside-another wonderful reason to get your 5-a-day!
Catechins is a polyphenol that has been recently touted as a cancer fighter. Although this nutrient can be found in a variety of fruits and vegetables, it is most commonly found in Green Tea. To combat the bitterness which is the reason generally given for not drinking this tea, simply add lemon and/or honey.
Probiotics are essentially foods that promote the growth of healthy bacteria. We have these bacteria in our digestive systems already. However, we also have "bad bacteria" that make us sick and hinder proper digestion. Having a good balanced GI tract will keep you healthy. Fermented foods like yogurt and sauerkraut are two of the foods which contain probiotics. Eating foods that contain probiotics may assist the growth of these "good bugs".
Sun Safety
When heading outdoors it's easy to forget about sun safety. Share these tips with your audience to help them stay safe when they head outside to move more:
Wear sunscreen. Protect your skin from the sun's rays. When exercising, choose sunscreens labeled 'sport' or 'waterproof' to maximize their cancer-fighting benefits even when you sweat or are in the water.
Dress in moisture wicking clothing. From t-shirts and tank tops to shorts and socks, many clothing makers use special fabrics to help keep you comfortable during the steamy summer months. These types of clothing are great for outdoor activities because they draw moisture away from your body to keep you cool.
Choose light colors. Darker fabrics absorb the sun's heat and can make you feel hotter when outside for a long time.
Remember your hat or visor. Shield your eyes with sunglasses and protect your face from the sun by wearing a hat or visor.
More Tips from the Environmental Protection Agency
Check out our latest videos!
Are you interested in Eating Smart in Buncombe County? Downtown on the Move and BCTV have produced videos on eating healthy. They feature such topics as getting fresh produce during your workday by visiting the Martin Luther King Edible Park, visiting a tailgate market or purchasing a CSA (Community Sustainable Agriculture share).
Check out all episodes. [Click Here]