Features,
Health Matters,
Red Cross,
Calendar,
West Nile Virus,
Honors & Awards,
Announcements
Health & Fitness News Elsewhere
(fresh daily from the Web)
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Features
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Vegetable benefits depend
on genetics and environment
[APRIL
30, 2003]
URBANA -- We eat vegetables
knowing they are good for us and, as recent research has revealed,
can sometimes help in the fight against cancer. But just how
beneficial a particular vegetable is may depend on what variety you
are eating as well as environmental factors that affected the crop,
according to Elizabeth Jeffery, University of Illinois nutritional
scientist.
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With USDA funding, Jeffery and fellow
researchers analyzed 50 varieties of broccoli to measure their
antioxidant and cancer-fighting compounds and found that broccoli
varieties are not created equal. Some varieties had 10 times the
vitamin E, twice the vitamin C and eight times the beta carotene.
These nutrients are antioxidants, thought to protect body cells from
the damaging effects of oxidation.
The broccoli varieties also ranged in
their amount of glucosinolates, compounds that promote the breakdown
of carcinogens and suppress the growth of cancer tumors. But
genetics isn't the whole story.
"One type of glucosinolate, called
glucobrassicin, which has been shown to fight breast cancer tumors,
varied dramatically as a result of its environment," said Jeffery.
"This compound is produced when insects or animals bite the plant,"
she explained. "More than 50 percent of the amount of glucobrassicin
in broccoli is determined by the environment in which the crop is
grown."
Jeffery was inspired to do this
research when she learned the results of a study done by U of I
plant geneticist John Juvik. He evaluated beta carotene, vitamin E
and vitamin C levels in a number of corn varieties. He too found
great variation in these antioxidant nutrients. Some varieties had
100 times the beta carotene and 25 times the vitamin E of others.
Since that time, she and Juvik have worked together on enhancing the
health benefits of broccoli. Other collaborators on this project
include Mosbah Kushad, Matt Wallig and Barbara Klein.
[to top of second column in this
article]
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Farmers typically focus on yield and
storage life characteristics, but not nutrient levels, when they
choose crop varieties. Jeffery doesn't expect farmers will have to
choose between high yield and high nutrient content.
"John Juvik and I both limited our
research to varieties that had high yield," said Jeffery. "This
means that high levels of nutrients and cancer-fighting compounds in
a crop are value-added," she said. The researchers hope to convince
seed providers that nutritional benefits should be included in the
marketing plan for many vegetable varieties.
Jeffery believes that understanding the
mechanisms that trigger the release of important compounds such as
glucobrassicin may open the door to genetically regulating the
amounts of health-promoting compounds that crop plants produce.
"More work is needed to get to that point, but one day we might
breed broccoli plants that produce more of these compounds."
The next
step for Jeffery is to evaluate the impact of processing on broccoli
nutrients and cancer-fighting compounds post-harvest. She has begun
a study to assess how cooking and processing of broccoli impact its
benefits.
[University
of Illinois news
release]
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Health Matters
A monthly feature from
Logan County Health Department
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Health
officials advise mosquito control and personal protection
[MAY
19, 2003]
As you know, mosquito
season is upon us again. Last year, West Nile virus, which can be
transmitted by mosquitoes, was prevalent in Illinois. Although we
don't know what 2003 will bring, it is always best to be prepared.
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First of all, no amount of larvaciding
or adult mosquito fogging will kill all mosquito larva or adult
mosquitoes. It can have a tremendous impact, but it is only one way
to help eliminate the mosquito population. Each person must do his
or her part. Since mosquitoes need only a small amount of water for
breeding, look to your own back yard.
*Remove or empty water in old tires,
tin cans, buckets, drums, flower pots or bird baths
*Empty plastic wading pools at least
once a week and store indoors when not in use. Also, swimming pools
that are not used should be covered or drained during the mosquito
season.
*Change the water in bird baths and
plant pots at least once a week.
*Level the ground around your house so
water can drain away and not collect in low-lying areas.
*If you have an ornamental water
garden, stock it with mosquito-eating fish such as minnows,
"mosquito fish" or goldfish. They eat mosquito larva.
*Keep weeds and tall grass cut short;
adult mosquitoes look for these shady places to rest during the hot
daylight hours.
*Small impoundments of water may be
treated with "Bti," a bacterial insecticide. Many hardware stores
carry doughnut-shaped Bti briquets (Mosquito Dunks) for this
purpose.
[to top of second column in
this article] |
Since we will not eradicate the
mosquito, we must also be responsible about personal protection. You
can protect yourself by:
*Avoiding places and times when
mosquitoes bite. This is usually just before and after sunset and
just before dawn. Each species has its own peak period of biting.
*Be sure doors and screens are
tight-fitting and in good repair.
*Check to see that your mosquito
repellent contains DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
Generally, repellents with a
concentration of 25 percent to 35 percent DEET work best on adults;
use lower concentrations of 10 percent or less for children between
the ages of 2 and 12. Do not use on infants.
For more information, go to
http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/wnv.htm and
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/
index.htm.
You may also
contact the Logan County Health Department at (217) 735-2317.
[Logan
County Health Department news
release]
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Red Cross
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West Nile Virus
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West Nile virus links
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LDN articles
Federal websites
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State websites
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Honors & Awards
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Announcements
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Central Illinois Senior Celebration
[MAY
19, 2003]
Wednesday, May 21, is the date for the Central
Illinois Senior Celebration, an event at the Illinois State
Fairgrounds. There will be free health screenings and informational
displays as well as refreshments, entertainment and door prizes.
Activities will be in the Orr Building from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
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Free parking and
shuttle service will be available, and there is no admission charge.
For more information,
call (217) 787-9234.
The event is sponsored by the Illinois
Department on Aging, Illinois Department of Insurance SHIP, Illinois
Secretary of State Jesse White, Memorial Medical Center's Gold Club,
Project LIFE Area Agency on Aging, Sangamon County Department of
Public Health, Senior Services of Central Illinois, St. John's
Hospital's Third Age Living and the University of Illinois
Springfield Extension Center, Sangamon-Menard.
[News
release] |
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CICBC
blood drives monthly at paramedics' building
Blood supplies across the
nation are critical. In some areas, there is less than a one-day
supply. Fortunately, thanks to the dedicated donors in central
Illinois, these tremendous shortages have not yet touched our
hospitals. However, the blood supply is a resource that must be
renewed. Every three seconds someone needs a blood transfusion of
some kind. To accommodate this constant usage, community members
must continually help replenish the supply. Since a donor can donate
whole blood only every eight weeks, Central Illinois Community Blood
Center needs community members to come forward and help with this
lifesaving effort.
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Central Illinois Community Blood Center
provides all of the blood and blood products for 12 area hospitals,
including those in Lincoln, Hopedale and Springfield. No other
organization provides blood in these hospitals. CICBC is a
community-based blood center whose mission is to provide a safe and
adequate blood supply for patients in local hospitals in a
cost-effective manner.
When you donate blood through CICBC,
you help to keep a safe and adequate blood supply for your
community. You also help keep local medical costs under control.
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Regularly scheduled blood drives are on
the first Monday of each month (except Labor Day) at the Logan
County Paramedic Association
building, 1300 N. Postville Road. (See
schedule.) Please help by donating blood.
CICBC also provides other services for
the communities served, such as therapeutic phlebotomy at no charge
for patients with hereditary hemochromatosis.
For more
information, call Terry Bell at 753-1530.
[CICBC press release]
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CICBC blood drive schedule |
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June 2,
noon-6 p.m., at Logan County Paramedic Association building
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July 7,
noon-6 p.m., at Logan County Paramedic Association building
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July 15,
hours and location to be announced
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Aug. 4,
noon-6 p.m., at Logan County Paramedic Association building
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Sept. 8,
noon-6 p.m., at Logan County Paramedic Association building
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Sept. 24,
hours and location to be announced
[to top of second
column in this section]
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Oct. 6,
noon-6 p.m., at Logan County Paramedic Association building
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Nov. 3,
noon-6 p.m., at Logan County Paramedic Association building
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Nov. 12,
hours and location to be announced
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Dec. 1,
noon-6 p.m., at Logan County Paramedic Association building
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Mobile health unit schedule
The
Rural Health Partnership has announced the schedule for its mobile
health unit for 2002.
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Morning: 9-11 a.m. |
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Afternoon: 1-3:30 p.m. |
Monday |
1st and 3rd |
Hartsburg |
1st and 3rd |
Emden |
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2nd and 4th |
San Jose |
2nd and 4th |
Greenview |
Tuesday |
Weekly |
Chestnut |
Weekly |
Mount Pulaski |
Wednesday |
Weekly |
New Holland |
Weekly |
Middletown |
Thursday |
1st and 3rd |
Elkhart |
Weekly |
Atlanta |
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2nd and 4th |
Friendship
Manor-Lincoln |
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Friday |
1st, 2nd,
4th |
Village Hall-Latham |
1st |
Beason |
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2nd and 4th |
Broadwell |
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3rd |
Maintenance/ special
events |
3rd |
Maintenance/
special events
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The mobile health unit does not operate on the following dates for
holidays during 2002: Jan. 21 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), Feb.
18 (Presidents' Day), March 29 (Good Friday), May 27 (Memorial Day),
July 4 (Independence Day), Sept. 2 (Labor Day), Oct. 14 (Columbus
Day), Nov. 11 (Veterans Day), Nov. 28-29 (Thanksgiving break) and Dec.
24-25 (Christmas break).
For more
information on the mobile health unit schedule and services, contact
Dayle Eldredge at (217) 732-2161, Ext. 409.
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Community resource list
This family
resource list to save and use is provided by the Healthy Communities
Partnership and the
Healthy Families Task Force, 732-2161, Ext. 409.
Agency |
Phone number |
Address |
Lincoln
agencies |
911 |
911 (emergency)
732-3911 (office -- non-emergency)
|
911 Pekin St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Abraham Lincoln
Memorial Hospital
|
732-2161
|
315 Eighth St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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American Red Cross
www.il-redcross.org |
732-2134 or
1 (800) 412-0100
|
125 S. Kickapoo
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Catholic Social
Services
www.cdop.org |
732-3771 |
310 S. Logan
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Lincoln/Logan County
Chamber
of Commerce
www.lincolnillinois.com |
735-2385 |
303 S. Kickapoo St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Community Action (CIEDC) |
732-2159
|
1800 Fifth St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Crisis Pregnancy
Center/
Living Alternatives |
735-4838 |
408 A Pulaski St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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DCFS (Department of
Children
& Family Services) |
735-4402 or
1 (800) 252-2873
(crisis hotline)
|
1120 Keokuk St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Heartland Community
College
- GED program |
735-1731 |
620 Broadway St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Housing Authority |
732-7776
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1028 N. College St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Illinois Breast &
Cervical Cancer Program (IBCCP)
www.logancountyhealth.org |
735-2317 or
1 (800) 269-4019
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109 Third St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Illinois Employment and Training Center (replaces JTPA office) |
735-5441 |
120 S. McLean St., Suite B
Farm Bureau Building
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Lincoln Area YMCA
|
735-3915 |
319 W. Kickapoo St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Lincoln/Logan Food
Pantry |
732-2204
|
P.O. Box 773
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Lincoln Parents' Center |
735-4192 |
100 S. Maple
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Lincoln Park District |
732-8770 |
1400 Primm Rd.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Logan County Department
of Human Services (Public Aid)
www.state.il.us/agency/dhs |
735-2306 |
1500 Fourth St.
P.O. Box 310
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Logan County Health
Department
www.logancountyhealth.org |
735-2317 |
109 Third St.
P.O. Box 508
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Logan-Mason Mental
Health |
735-2272 or
732-3600 (crisis line)
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304 Eighth St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Logan-Mason
Rehabilitation Center |
735-1413 |
760 S. Postville Drive
Lincoln, IL 62656
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The Oasis
(Senior Citizens of Logan County) |
732-6132 |
501 Pulaski St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Project READ
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735-1731 |
620 Broadway St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Salvation Army |
732-7890
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1501 N. Kickapoo
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Senior Services of
Central Illinois |
732-6213 or
1 (800) 252-8966
(crisis line)
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109 Third St.
Lincoln, IL 62656
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U. of I. Extension
Service
www.ag.uiuc.edu |
732-8289 |
980 N. Postville Drive
Lincoln, IL 62656
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Springfield
agencies |
Department of Aging
www.state.il.us/aging |
785-3356 |
421 E. Capitol, #100
Springfield, IL 62701-1789
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American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org |
546-7586
(24 hour) |
1305 Wabash, Suite J
Springfield, IL 62704
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Community Child Care
Connection
www.childcaresolutions.org |
(217) 525-2805 or
1 (800) 676-2805
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1004 N. Milton Ave.
Springfield, IL 62702-4430
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Hospice Care of
Illinois |
1 (800) 342-4862
(24 hour) or
732-2161, Ext. 444
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720 N. Bond
Springfield, IL 62702
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Illinois Department of
Public Health
www.idph.state.il.us |
(217) 782-4977
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535 W. Jefferson
Springfield, IL 62761
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Legal Assistance
Foundation |
(217) 753-3300 or
1 (800) 252-8629
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730 E. Vine St., Suite
214
Springfield, IL 62703
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Sojourn Shelter &
Services Inc.
http://www.sojournshelter.org/
|
732-8988 or
1 (866) HELP4DV
(24-hour hotline)
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1800 Westchester Blvd.
Springfield, IL 62704
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U. of I. Division of
Specialized Care for Children
www.uic.edu |
524-2000 or
1 (800) 946-8468
|
421 South Grand Ave.
West
Second Floor
Springfield, IL 62704
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Logan County
libraries |
Atlanta Library |
(217) 648-2112 |
100 Race St.
Atlanta, IL 61723 |
Elkhart Library |
(217) 947-2313 |
121 E. Bohan
Elkhart, IL 62634 |
Lincoln Public Library
www.lincolnpubliclibrary.org |
732-8878 |
725 Pekin St.
Lincoln, IL 62656 |
Mount Pulaski Library |
792-5919
|
320 N. Washington
Mount Pulaski, IL 62548
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(updated
2-15-02) |
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