Is anyone else having a stressful week? This might be my most stressful week to date! So I thought it would be beneficial to share about how certain foods can actually help you reduce stress! Who knew?

A warm cup of tea can calm and soothe, and certain herbs like lavender and chamomile have been shown to have a relaxing effect.

Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and can reduce levels of stress hormones in the body, plus, the feeling of indulgence has a positive effect of its own.

Choose carbohydrates, which have been shown to increase levels of serotonin, a chemical that can boost your mood and reduce stress.

Avocados are packed with omega-3 fatty acids, known to reduce stress and anxiety, boost concentration and improve your mood.

Another good source of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as a benefit to cardiovascular health are fatty fish such as tuna, halibut, salmon, herring, mackerel, sardines and lake trout.

Milk and other dairy foods with calcium and added vitamin D can help your muscles relax and also stabilize your mood. A mug of warm milk is great way to relax.

Nuts are packed with vitamins and fatty acids that can help to reduce stress. Studies have found that pistachios in particular can play a role in reducing stress levels.

Studies have found that high levels of vitamin C can reduce stress levels, so indulge in oranges, grapefruits and strawberries!

Get more information HERE

I think we can all admit that we have bad eating habits, whether it’s late-night snacking, junk-food binges or emotional eating. Breaking these habits can be a simple way to promote weight loss and a healthy lifestyle, so read on for some helpful tips!

Junk Food: There’s a reason you keep going back to the bag of potato chips or the package of cookies. Studies have found that high-fat and high-sugar foods can be addicting, actually triggering feelings of happiness in us.

The Fix: There’s no reason why you can enjoy your favorite junk food every once in a while. And completely eliminating them from your diet will only make you crave them more. So what’s the secret? MODERATION! Identify what you really want and indulge in it in moderation, a couple of times a week as opposed to every day.

Eating Too Quickly: Thanks to public schools, we’ve been trained to stuff our food down our gullet as quickly as possible, and whether it’s a snack or a full meal, it’s not healthy. Eating too quickly doesn’t give your brain time to catch up with your stomach and trigger the full feeling until you’ve already eaten too much.

The Fix: There are several things you can do to help slow down how quickly you eat your meals. Put your fork or spoon down on the table in between each bite. Take smaller bites, and be sure to chew each bite thoroughly. In addition, drinking water during the meal will help slow you down and fill you up.

Emotional Eating: Many of us use food as a coping mechanism. If we’re stressed at work, upset over a break up or whatever the case may be, we open up the pint of ice cream and eat, and eat, and eat. Both positive and negative emotions can cause people to eat more than they should.

The Fix: Find a new outlet for your emotions. If you’re stressed when you get home from work, take a walk or call an empathetic friend. Find a new way to vent, anything’s an option if it keeps you out of the kitchen!

Find more tips in this article!

Go ahead, add some color to your plate!

No really, it’s okay. Food doesn’t have to be boring and blah to be healthy. In fact, some of the healthiest foods out there are some of the most brightly colored! So go step by step through the rainbow and get a full range of vitamins and nutrients that look great and taste wonderful!

Red bell peppers, tomatoes, tart cherries, cranberries, raspberries, rhubarb, pomegranates or beets are all packed with anitoxidants, Vitamin C, manganese and fiber.

Butternut squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, cantaloupes, oranges, pumpkins, orange peppers, nectarines and peaches are loaded with anitoxidants Vitamin C, potassium, fiber and vitamin B6.

Spaghetti squash, summer squash, yellow bell peppers and bananas include manganese, potassium, vitamin A, fiber and magnesium.

Spinach, broccoli and asparagus and full of lutein and folate, but virtually all green vegetables are packed with nutrients and healthy qualities.

Blueberries are one of the most powerful anitoxidants.

Concord grapes, currants, plums, or any rich purple healthy fruits are full of antioxidants. And don't rule out raicchio, eggplant, purple cabbage, purple tomatoes and purple carrots, all rich in Vitamin A and flavonoids.

You can argue over whether it’s called soda, pop, or soda pop but no matter what it’s called, there’s no getting around the fact that it’s one of the worst things you can drink on a regular basis. Soda consumption has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease and diabetes, as well as to rising rates of obesity (article).

Why not try something else in place of pop? I know, I know, crazy talk right? Just hear me out…

Add slices of your favorite fruits or veggies (strawberries, cucumbers or mint) to a pitcher of cold for a splash of refreshing flavor!

Studies of green tea have shown that it may help reduce the risk of several types of cancer, heart disease, hypertension, kidney stones, and possibly even cavities. In addition to this, green tea is calorie-free (if you have it without milk or sugar) and naturally high in antioxidants

Vegetable juice offers a quick, low-calorie way to get all the benefits of veggies. It also contains much less natural sugar than fruit juices. But vegetable juice can be high in sodium, so opt for a low-sodium version whenever possible.

Check out this article for more ideas and suggestions for soda substitutions.

Greg Shea, Co-Chair

Dick Beechner, Co-Chair

Jackie Rosenlof, Honorary Chair

Buffalo County Community Partners is proud to announce that their 2012 Annual Fund Campaign will be led by co-chairs Greg Shea and Dick Beechner, with the assistance of honorary chair Jackie Rosenlof.
Buffalo County Community Partners is launching their 2012 Annual Fund Campaign to raise $140,000 to better ELEVATE issues, ENGAGE people, EMPOWER youth and EVALUATE progress towards building a healthier Buffalo County.

Partnership builidng is the strength of this organization.
Today, 1,000 volunteers and 200 organizations are working together to create positive change in their community. These volunteers are making 450,000 personal contacts annually. Every $1.00 donated to Buffalo County Community Partners is matched by $5.00 in grant funding. Our local donors are leveraging significant change in Buffalo County.

~Denise Zwiener, Executive Director
Buffalo County Community Partners

The Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board spent Tuesday, March 20th at the state Capitol with other youth from Buffalo County, meeting with senators and discussing legislative issues important to the youth.
Youth met with Senators Hadley, Avery, Wightman and more, as they shared information on bills relating to the tax-exempt status of sugary drinks, synthetic drugs and tobacco-free school campuses.
In addition to meeting with senators, the youth also had a question and answer time with Governor Dave Heineman and sat in the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature as bills were read on the floor.
Thank you to Region 3 Behavioral Health Services for the mini-grant that enabled the Buffalo County Youth Advisory Board to hold this Youth Day at the Capitol and engage youth in advocacy at the state level.
The Youth Advisory Board is now recruiting for the 2012-2013 school year, and there are seats open in all 9 schools represented in Buffalo County. Know an interested youth? Have them contact their school counselor for more information or download the application at www.bcyab.org/about/apply-for-yab. Contact 308-865-2284 or email info@bcchp.org for more information.

Buffalo County youth in front of the Capitol building

Doug Kramer, Spencer & Garrison Lowe, Molly Klinginsmith and Jack Anderson (from Kearney), met with Senator Galen Hadley.

Did you know your heart is actually in the center of your chest, not on the left side? It’s nestled between your lungs in the center of your chest, so why do we place our hand over the left side of our chest when we say the Pledge of Allegiance? Who knows….

Did you know that Monday’s are the most common days for heart attacks? Other heart-attack filled days are Christmas, the day after Christmas, and New Years day. Any thoughts why?

Did you know that a man’s heart is about 25% larger than a woman’s? The man’s larger heart can pump more blood per beat, meaning a woman’s heart has to beat faster to keep the same blood flow.

Find more fun heart facts HERE

How much water do you use on a daily basis? Water is used for everything, but the demand is increasing while the supply is decreasing. How can you make a difference?

Infographic from wholelivingdaily.com