Transcending: Words on Women and Strength by Kelly Corrigan

Lower Back Stretching Exercises

This article tells you how you can cut your risk of a stroke in half!

http://health.msn.com/healthy-living/11-health-habits-that-will-help-you-live-to-100

East Valley's 2nd Annual Bowling Fundraiser

On January 28, 2012, this past Saturday, East Valley staff, family, and friends participated in its 2nd annual bowling fundraiser! Twenty lanes were filled with bowling excitement and raffle gifts were given away to participants. In all, over $7,000 was raised! Money will be used for East Valley to continue providing vital healthcare services to the East San Gabriel and Pomona Valley community members.

Thank you to all who donated and participated! You have given one of the most important gifts anyone can give, the gift of health!

Pictures will be posted within the next couple of days:)

Thanks Again,
East Valley

A story about a girl who ate only Chicken McNuggets and fries for 15 years...crazy!

A McNugget-Only Diet? -

If you missed the State of the Union Address, here it is...

Chef Carol Ritchie's Healthy Valentine's Day Dinner Recipe

Paula Deen: Diabetes diagnosis won’t change how I cook

Paula Deen: Diabetes diagnosis won’t change how I cook

An interesting article about Paula Deen and her diagnosis with diabetes. She has been teaching people to cook very unhealthy diets for years, she gets diagnosed with diabetes and doesn't tell anyone, then she decides to talk about it when she becomes a spokesperson for the pharmaceutical company she gets her diabetes medication from. WOW!

If you have time, let me know what you think:)

This is just a little somethin' funny to start off your weekend smiling. I think my favorite is a toss up between the selfish cat and Aunt Carol...

Transplant nurse donates own kidney to patient

Transplant nurse donates own kidney to patient

If "traveling more" is one of your New Year's resolutions, check this video out...

Check out this great MSN video - 10 Places To Visit Before They Disappear

Meet One of Our Dedicated Volunteers...Carly

Carly has been a volunteer with East Valley Community Health Center for almost 5 years. She has volunteered her time in several departments including Outreach, Accounting, Health Promotion, and Quality Improvement.

In addition to being a volunteer, when she turned 15, she began working at East Valley as a Teen Peer Educator. In this position she talked to other teens about how they can prevent an unintended pregnancy and the spread of STDs. A short 3 months later, funding for the Teen Peer Educator program was no longer available due to state budget cuts, however, Carly continued to volunteer her time with us. 

Her volunteer work and work as a Teen Peer Educator has been a tremendous help to East Valley, as well as within the community, and we hope that Carly continues to work with us in the future. Thanks Carly!

Meet Our Staff...Frank

Frank has been working part-time at East Valley since 2009 and recently earned a full-time position as our Quality Improvement Assistant. He was born and raised in California and loves teaching group fitness, skateboarding, and spending time with his family. One thing that Frank likes about East Valley is the great people he gets to work with every day. He says, “Everyone here seems to love what they do!”.

Welcome Frank! We are glad to have you join our Quality Improvement Team!

Christmas Gift Give-Away

If you would like to see more pictures of families receiving their Christmas gifts, please visit our facebook page at www.facebook.com/eastvalleyclinic and "like" our page while you're there:) Thanks!

Check out this great MSN video - Kitchen Herb Garden Tips

Check out this great MSN video - Kitchen Herb Garden Tips

5 Home Remedies for Common Ailments

When it comes to minor ailments like headaches and motion sickness some people are turning to kitchen-based remedies to soothe symptoms. A recent survey reported that worries about the economy are driving more people to alternative remedies as they look for ways to save money on expensive doctor visits and prescription medicines. Here are natural ways to help nausea, headaches, urinary tract infections, yeast infections and arthritis pain:

You’ve heard: “Arthritis pain? Eating fatty fish can help.”

The Truth: There’s intriguing evidence that taking omega-3 fatty acids in the form of supplements and cod-liver oil may help reduce flare-ups of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease that affects more than 1.3 million Americans. Omega-3 fatty acids work similarly to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen: they reduce the production of prostaglandins, hormone-like substances that cause swelling and pain (i.e., inflammation). And, while “the definitive study has yet to be done,” says John Hardin, M.D., chief scientific officer for the Arthritis Foundation, it’s “reasonable to assume” that the anti-inflammatory actions of omega-3s in supplements and cod-liver oil might also benefit people with osteoarthritis (OA), a much more common form of arthritis.

Could eating fish rich in omega-3s also help? Perhaps: One Greek study found that RA sufferers reported having less pain during Lent, when they followed Lenten rules to eat fish instead of meat. But beyond this circumstantial association, there isn’t any “real” evidence (e.g., clinical study results) that eating fish soothes arthritic aches. Still, Hardin and many of his fellow rheumatologists regularly tell patients that a diet that “leans more toward fatty fish” may help alleviate their pain. And even if it doesn’t end up reducing arthritis pain, eating fish — particularly fatty types, such as salmon — twice a week may help your heart.

You’ve heard: “Grab a cup of coffee to relieve a headache.”

The Truth: Better make it two cups. Studies show that 200 milligrams of caffeine — about the amount in 16 ounces of brewed coffee — does provide relief from headaches, including migraines. Exactly how caffeine relieves headaches isn’t clear. But scientists do know that caffeine boosts the activity of brain cells, causing surrounding blood vessels to constrict. One theory is that this constriction helps to relieve the pressure that causes the pain, says Robert Shapiro, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of neurology and director of the Headache Clinic at the University of Vermont Medical School.

However, relying on caffeine long-term can backfire. When regular coffee drinkers miss their daily caffeine fix, this is often associated with a rebound increase in blood flow to the brain. Increased blood flow means increased pressure and, as a result, “withdrawal headaches” can occur. Shapiro counsels headache sufferers to limit caffeine intake and use it only to relieve headaches.

You’ve heard: “If you’re feeling queasy, sip some ginger ale.”

The Truth: Scientific research shows that ginger may help control nausea related to pregnancy, surgical anesthesia and, yes, even sailing the high seas. In one study out of Denmark, consuming 1 gram of gingerroot reduced the severity of naval cadets’ seasickness. How does the spicy root alleviate queasiness? Ginger contains compounds called gingerols that, like anti-nausea medications, “help block serotonin receptors in the stomach,” says Suzanna M. Zick, N.D., M.P.H., assistant research professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Michigan. (Serotonin, that famous “feel-good” brain chemical, is also associated with vomiting.) Zick recommends steeping 1 to 2 grams of fresh gingerroot (1 gram is about the size of a quarter) in boiling water to make a tea or eating about 2 teaspoons of candied ginger. Don’t go overboard, Zick warns: Consuming more than 6 grams of ginger in one sitting can irritate the stomach.

As for ginger ale: Only a few companies use real ginger in their brews — and since most manufacturers don’t disclose amounts of ingredients, it’s hard to know whether even those drinks have enough ginger to provide anti­nausea benefits, says Zick.

You’ve heard: “Treat a urinary tract infection by drinking lots of cranberry juice.”

The Truth: Drinking cranberry juice can help prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to several studies. Cranberries contain compounds called proanthocyanidins that appear to keep harmful bacteria from sticking to the bladder. If you get more than three UTIs per year, says Ruth Jepson, Ph.D., R.N., senior research fellow in the Department of Nursing and Midwifery at the University of Stirling, Scotland, you might consider the proactive approach of drinking cranberry juice regularly. She recommends two (8-ounce) glasses a day.

Dried cranberries may come in handy, too: One small study found that eating about 1⁄3 cup of sweetened dried cranberries daily may also help prevent UTIs. Don’t forget to account for the additional calories: Each cup of unsweetened cranberry juice contains about 70 calories (140 for sugar-sweetened); 1⁄3 cup of sweetened dried berries has about 120 calories. Once a UTI develops, juice probably won’t help. “There is no clinical evidence that cranberry juice is effective in shortening the duration of a UTI or in alleviating the painful symptoms,” notes Jepson. Why do so many women swear it works? “The jury’s still out on that,” says Jepson, who speculates that consuming extra fluids may help flush out the harmful bacteria. So drinking plenty of plain old water may work just as well.

You’ve heard: “Eat plenty of yogurt if you have a yeast infection.”

The Truth: Our bodies normally play host to some “good” bacteria and some “bad” bacteria, along with a small amount of yeasts. “Good” bacteria help to keep yeast populations in check. When the number of beneficial bacteria drops, yeasts can start to take over, resulting in a yeast infection. A few studies suggest that eating yogurt — which contains “good” bacteria — may keep yeast under control. One study found that women who regularly ate yogurt had a healthier balance of bacteria and fewer infections. But other studies aren’t as promising — and none, so far, has found that eating yogurt provides any relief once an infection has developed.

Even so, if you’re susceptible to yeast infections, having a cup of yogurt every day can’t hurt. If nothing else, it’s a good source of protein and calcium. Look for brands that specifically advertise they contain live and active cultures, which ensures you’ll get the beneficial bacteria.

This information was found at: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/pain-management/arthritis/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=100282758&imageindex=1

East Valley Christmas Gift Give-Away!

Thank you to everyone who supported our 2011 Christmas Give-Away. We, along with the help and support of many others, provided gifts to several families in need of help. Children received warm clothes and toys, and parents received warm clothes and gift cards to stores where they can purchase food and other necessities. Each family was greeted and given a candy cane by Santa and had an opportunity to take a picture with him. The pictures will be posted on Facebook at www.facebook.com/eastvalleyclinic for you to view. The pictures are great, we were able to capture some very special moments!

Just as we are not able to provide the gifts for families in need without your help, we are also not able to provide medical services to thousands of people without your help. To continue your support of families in need, please click on the donate button above, or visit us at http://www.evchc.org/ and click "donate" on our home page. Any amount is greatly appreciated by us as well as the thousands of families that will need a place to go for immunizations, breast exams, medicine for their sick children, and many other vital health care services. Thanks again for your support!