July 2009 HealthierYou Calendar

What's Your Favorite Sound?

Key to the Matching Activity

• Fireworks Safety Month (June 1 - July 4)
• Eye Injury Prevention Month
• UV Safety Month

Fact or Fiction

Exposure to continuous noise for long periods of time can damage hearing.

Fact: Hearing loss, in most cases, is the result of a lifetime of exposure to noise from various sources. There are simple ways to help determine whether the noise that surrounds you could result in damage to your hearing. Assess the following:

• If at a distance of three feet you have to raise your voice to be heard, the sound levels are probably approaching 85 decibels (dB) which is above the level where regular long-term exposure can result in permanent damage.
• Ringing in the ear or tinnitus is a sign of potential damage to the nerve cells. If you hear ringing or a rushing sound after leaving a noisy area, the sound was probably too loud.
• If conversation sounds muffled or unclear after you leave a noisy area, it’s likely that you have overloaded your hearing senses resulting in Temporary Threshold Shift (TTS). This temporary loss of hearing will reverse after a quiet period.

For more information please visit www.hearingconservation.org.

NASA in Your Life

The Low Vision Enhancement System (LVES)

The Low Vision Enhancement System (LVES) is a video headset that offers people with low vision a view of their surroundings equivalent to the image on a 5-foot television screen 4-feet from the viewer. For many people with low vision, it eases everyday activities such as reading, watching TV, and shopping.

Researchers used NASA technology for computer processing of satellite images and head-mounted vision enhancement systems originally intended for the Space Station.

For more information please visit www.sti.nasa.gov.

Down-To-Earth

Biodiesel

To make biodiesel, the base oil is put through a process called "esterificiation." This refining method uses an industrial alcohol (ethanol or methanol) and a catalyst (substance that enables a chemical reaction) to convert the oil into biodiesel.

Biodiesel is registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and is legal for use at any blend level in both highway and nonroad diesel vehicles. Most diesel engines can run on biodiesel without needing any special equipment.

Raw vegetable oil or recycled greases (also called waste cooking oil) that have not been processed into esters are not biodiesel, and are not registered by EPA for legal use in vehicles.

Indy 500, for example, uses 100% fuel grade ethanol to power its cars. The engines not only perform better they can go faster and farther because ethanol packs more energy per gallon than traditional race car fuel. For every 28.3 gallons of ethanol used we will need one less barrel of imported oil. There are many issues surrounding biodiesel fuel, read more on www.epa.gov.

HealthierYou by Choice

In 1957, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce designated July as the National Hot Dog Month. Are you ready for a new twist to this old favorite?

Hot dogs are a processed food item with a high index of sodium and saturated fat. Nonetheless, they remain an old favorite of ours and are especially enjoyed as a picnic meal. Next time you are planning on serving hot dogs try a Lite brand on a whole wheat bun and a heart-friendly relish of roasted pepper and bananas.

Follow this link to obtain the heart-friendly recipe of Roasted Pepper and Banana Relish This is a delicious relish that can be served with hot dogs, grilled fish, meats, and many other dishes. You can also check this Hot Dog Calorie Counter.

CalorieKing's business is to set the food record straight. They believe that food awareness may be the most important term in weight control. CalorieKing provides food-facts with the goal to pave the road to sustainable behavior improvements and better health. Visit www.calorieking.com and search under hot dogs or other topics of interest.