May 2017 edition
H2O Challenge

The Search for Delicious
The Prime Minister is writing a new dictionary for the kingdom. The King and Queen are happy as they get to define words like, affectionate is your dog," and "bulky is a big bag of boxes," but they have an issue when they don't agree on what delicious is. They decide to send the special assistant out to travel across the kingdom and poll the people on what they consider delicious. 

As the special assistant goes from town to town, he continues to try different food and drink. Each meal and drink is more delicious than the last. Until one day he comes to a poverty stricken town. This town has faced a severe drought and hasn't had fresh water for a long time. When he asks the people in this town what their definition of delicious is they say, "WATER, because nothing is more delicious than water when you are truly thirsty." 

Did You Know? 
Soft drinks are the beverage of choice for millions of Americans, but sugary drinks increase the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Re-think Your Drink!

Trade in those sugar-sweetened beverages and challenge yourself to drink the recommended daily amount of water this month! 

Use this TRACKING SHEET, record your daily water intake for the month of May. Scan it in at the end of the challenge for a chance at some awesome eWellness Prizes!

  • People who consume sugary drinks regularly - 1 to 2 cans a day - have a 26% greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than people who rarely have such drinks

  • A study of 80,000 women found that those who consumed a can a day of sugary drink had a 75% higher risk of gout 

  • A study followed 40,000 men found that those who averaged one can of sugary beverage per day had a 20% higher risk of having a heart attack or dying from a heart attack
May is National Stroke Awareness Month
Strokes can affect people of all ages and backgrounds.

Learn how to safeguard yourself against stroke. 

Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke & one person in every four minutes dies from a stroke, making it the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. 

A stroke, sometimes called a brain attack, occurs when a blockage stops the flow of blood to the brain or when a blood vessel in or around the brain bursts. Although many people think of stroke as a condition that affects only older adults, strokes can and do occur in people of all ages.

While demographic factors all play a role in an individuals stroke risk, there are several things you can do to lower our chances of having a stroke. For example, smoking contributes to one in every five strokes in the US. Smoking - and even exposure to second hand smoke - can thicken the blood and make it likely to clot. 

Explore heart disease and stroke risks, consequences, and tips for prevention visit Million Hearts , a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over 5 years. 
Are You Getting Enough Calcium?

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in your body. Consuming enough calcium is critical for keeping your bones & teeth strong & for maintaining the function of your nerves, heart and muscles.

Failing to get enough calcium can stunt children's growth & can increase risk of developing osteoporosis. The current recommended dietary allowance by age group is as follows:

  • 1-3 years - 700 mg daily
  • 4-8 years - 1,000 mg daily
  • 9-18 years - 1,300 mg daily
  • 19-50 years - 1,000 mg daily
  • 51-70 years - 1,000 mg daily (men) 1,200 mg daily (women)
District Happenings for May

May 2nd - National Teacher Appreciation Day

May 10th - National School Nurse Day

May 10th - National Bike to Work Day

May 15th-19th - Police Officer & Security Appreciation Week
  Calcium-Rich Foods
 
Staying Mentally Healthy

Mental health is one of your greatest assets. It helps you focus at work, overcome obstacles, get along with the people around you - and get well and stay well. 

Check out these 10 tools to help you

How's your mood? Taking a mental health screening is a quick and easy way to help you check in on yourself and your current state. 
Kick off your Memorial Day Weekend with the 40th running of Austin's oldest 5K! The Daisy 5K will be held at Camp Mabry on Saturday May 27th.

Austin ISD employees get 10% off race entry. 

Register here and enter code "AISD" to receive the discount. 
Save the Date!
Open House
Saturday May 13th, 2017

Join us as we bid farewell to the historic University Medical Center Brackenridge and usher in a new era of advanced, Texas-friendly care. Tour Dell Seton Medical Center at the University of Texas before it officially opens. Meet the team, see the brand new and technologically advanced facilities and enjoy Austin-style family activities, live music, refreshments and concessions. 

The procession and community open house is Saturday May 13th from 1:00-5:00pm at Red River & 15th St.