Doughnut Worry, Be Happy!

Today is National Doughnut Day! Each year on the first Friday in June, people participate in National Doughnut Day.

The Salvation Army created National Doughnut Day in 1938 to honor the women who served doughnuts to soldiers in World War I. In 1917, the original “Salvation Army Doughnut” was first served by the ladies of the Salvation Army. It was during WWI that the Salvation Army Lassies went to the front lines of Europe. Home-cooked foods, provided by these brave volunteers, were a morale boost to the troops. The doughnuts were often cooked in oil inside the metal helmets of American soldiers. American infantrymen were then commonly called “doughboys.” 

Celebrate the day by enjoying your favorite doughnut. There are many varieties of doughnuts to choose from, too! Whether you prefer glazed or creme-filled, holes, or any number of deliciously made doughnuts, get out there and support your local bakeries.

Some spots are offering free doughnuts or doughnut deals to celebrate (social distancing and safety precautions included). Here’s a list of some shops offering deals for the holiday in the Boston area. Please contact your doughnut shop first to make sure they are participating!

• Krispy Kreme: Free doughnut
• Dunkin’: Free doughnut with purchase of a beverage

National Running Day and the Health Benefits of Aerobic Exercise

Each year on the first Wednesday in June, people across the United States participate in National Running Day.  The day was designated as a way for runners to reaffirm their passion for running and for beginners to make a life-changing commitment to running.

For some, running is a daily routine. The moment the runner awakes, their mission is to complete a set distance. They may have a partner, or they go it alone. Others fit in a run when time allows or at the end of their workday. The marathoner will train on a schedule, and the dedicated runner knows they have to take care of their feet, knees and eat right to maintain their bodies for the road.

Since it improves aerobic fitness, running is a great way to help improve cardiovascular health. Plus, it burns calories and can build strength, among other things. There’s also a long list of psychological benefits runners gain from their sport.

Even a 30-minute run can lift symptoms of depression and improve mood. Spending 30 minutes on a treadmill is enough to life the mood of someone suffering from major depressive disorder. Even participants who moved at a walking pace received the same mood-lifting benefit.

Running can also significantly improve cardiovascular health. We know that aerobic activity is good for the hart, so it’s no surprise that running can improve cardiovascular fitness. In general, the more people run, the healthier their hearts tend to be. But you can get bug benefits without having to do a lot: running just five minutes per day could add years ti your life.

Overall, running and other forms of aerobic exercise significantly reduce your chances of death. Getting 30 minutes or more of aerobic exercise on a regular basis makes people significantly less likely to die from any cause. Getting and hour or more of movement is even better. People who meet these exercise guidelines are significantly less likely to develop a number of forms of cancer.

For many people, the easiest way to get all these benefits of exercise is to get out and start running. Whatever the distance, the celebration of National Running Day is about placing one foot in front of the other and setting a pace.

Whether you run a few miles or just around the block, by yourself or with a friend or three, this is a perfect day to go for a run! Pace yourself and share your celebration with us using #NationalRunningDay to post on social media.

National Egg Day!

It is National Egg Day!

Eggs are a delicious and simple food, people all over the world for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Check out 59 (!) different ways to cook eggs. It is said that every ridge in the traditional French chef hat represents a way he knows to cook eggs!

For a little while people steered clear of eggs due to worries about high cholesterol content. But in 2000, the American Heart Association guidelines were revised to say that an adult can enjoy an egg a day and remain well within the daily cholesterol limit.

National Pen Pal Day!

It’s National Pen Pal Day!

A pen pal is someone you correspond with by regularly writing letters, sharing aspects of your life, personal events, and more. The relationship is based on exchanging letters, and many times the pen pals have never met, or it can be someone who you once knew.

Nowadays with less people using snail mail, receiving and exchanging letters in the mail with a pen pal is exciting! Having a pen pal is a lovely pastime, and sometimes they even meet up in person. Pen pals may seek out others with a shared commonality, like hobbies,

A friend’s mother has had a penpal in Germany since childhood, and they have been in touch for decades! They have even come to visit each other in their countries!

Pen pals come in all ages, nationalities, cultures, languages and interests. There are many benefits of having a pen pal! Whether your pen pal is in a different country or in a different city, having a pen pal offers people a broader view of the world. Writing letters helps improve our writing skills, and gives us a break from technology! If your pen pal speaks another language, you can practice learning languages with each other! A great way to connect to a pen pal is through shared hobbies!

https://www.marthastewart.com/1538505/how-to-find-pen-pal?fbclid=IwAR2Vp9ZWSzUOEqXuMkVtDXXBb5mTnqF5MduMtumQaLSpZKUdKVRVxCnos98

Heimlich Maneuver – A Life Saver

The Heimlich Maneuver is lifesaving, here are the steps. It is important to remember that the Heimlich Maneuver needs to be preformed differently on different people for safety reasons and require alternate methods This includes infants (under 1 years old), pregnant women, and performing it on yourself.

Standard Heimlich Maneuver:

Determine whether you need to perform abdominal thrusts. If a person who appears to be choking is conscious and coughing, they may be able to dislodge the object on their own. Administer first aid if the person is:

-not coughing
-unable to speak or breathe
-signaling for help, typically by holding their hands around their throat

First, if there’s a bystander, have them call 911 (or your local emergency phone number) for emergency help. If you’re the only person present, begin first aid treatment:

1. Get the person to stand up.
2. Position yourself behind the person.
3. Lean the person forward and give five blows to their back with the heel of your hand.
4. Place your arms around their waist.
5. Make a fist and place it just above the navel, thumb side in.
6. Grab the fist with your other hand and push it inward and upward at the same time. Perform five of these abdominal thrusts.
7. Repeat until the object is expelled and the person can breathe or cough on their own.

Alternatively, if the person can’t stand up, straddle their waist, facing their head. Push your fist inward and upward in the same manner as you would if they were standing.

Video demonstration by a registered nurse (also named Mary 🙂 )