Wellness At Home

 Many people may be missing out on nutrients and eating improper proportions. It can be hard to know what proportions are right for us because it can be hard to estimate those proportions and people also require different amounts regarding certain factors. One resource I really want to highlight in this post is the MyPlate resource by the USDA. MyPlate is a great resource because it highlights the importance of proportions and how to divide those proportions on our plate. It is visually easier to understand than other common resources, like the food pyramid for example.  The image above is provided on the MyPlate website and acts as a guide to visually represent the proportions of these food groups that we should consume with our meals. Another great aspect of MyPlate is that they provide examples on the website of foods that can be included in these groups. They also encourage eating a wide variety of foods in these groups in order to get an even larger range of nutrients. I ...

 Eating healthy is not always an option available for people. Whether it be due to time constraints, a busy schedule, or not having access or funds to buying healthy groceries, there are many reasons that account for this. Another reason that contributes to this problem is the existence of food deserts in our country. A food desert is a place/area that does not have as much access to healthy foods or grocery stores in general. Instead, most foods that are accessible are fast foods and/or processed foods. Food deserts can be a result of economic issues and lack of transportation within such areas. Food deserts are a problem that cannot be solved by an individual, but I wanted to point this out as it is an issue that harms people and their access to healthy foods.      Another point I would like to make in this post is that a lot of economic issues and struggles have arose due to the impact of COVID-19 on our country. This is due to the fact that many people lost their...

 Due to COVID-19, many facilities and businesses have had to remain closed for many months now. This includes gyms and recreational centers. These facilities are useful for staying active because they have equipment and space that many people do not have within their own homes. Since these facilities have been closed, people have had to find other ways to exercise. My goal for this post is to provide resources that can help people achieve fitness and other goals at home or outside of the traditional gym. We have to be adaptable and open to new situations, especially during these uncertain times. If anything, it is even more important now than ever to take care of our bodies and our health. I will list tips and advice in this post that can make exercising during these times still fun and manageable. Exercising At Home Being able to exercise at home can be difficult for many differed reasons. Such reasons can include; lack of space, noise level disturbance, and lack of equipment. How...

The first post on this blog will be dedicated to learning about what stress is and how to deal with it. Due to COVID-19, many people have faced more stress and negativity within their life. My goal is to educate whoever reads this about what stress is and ways that it can be dealt with at home.  Firstly, let's start with the definition of stress. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, stress can be defined as "... how the brain and body respond to any demand." According to this definition, stress is a response to a situation. There are different types of stress such as acute and chronic stress. Acute stress is a response to a situation such as running late to work or having to give a presentation. Chronic stress is a long-term response to situations that do not go away after a short amount of time. Examples of this include food and/or job insecurity and also bad relations with others. Chronic stress can have a negative impact on the body since it can lead t...

 Hello! My name is Luciana Balderas and I am a senior at PSU. This blog was created for my Public Health Education alternative internship course. Due to COVID-19, traditional internship opportunities are not quite as available and/or safe so this blog is a replacement for that traditional internship. Every week I will make a post that includes information on a health topic related to staying healthy and well at home. I will also include an easy and healthy food recipe and also a workout video that I think nearly everyone would be capable of completing at home in a small space. My goal is to promote education about health topics and also provide resources so that people can be healthy and well at home since schools, gyms, and many other places we need for that information are not accessible anymore. I hope that these blogposts can be helpful for anyone who wants to learn more about such health topics and also apply that information into their life.