Fulcro Insurance

With the emerge of the Influenza A

H1N1, we have been more aggressive

in adopting preventive measures.

Today we see more people doing

things like:

• Hand washing with soap and

water or with an alcohol base

hand sanitizer

• Covering their nose and mouths

when sneezing or coughing

• Avoiding the need to touch their

eyes, nose and mouth

• Avoiding sick people or going out

if they are sick

• Cleaning areas of public use more

frequently

These practices are proven equally

effective in preventing other infections

like:

• seasonal flue

• common cold

• throat infections due to bacteria,

among other

In the rain season there is also another

type of infection called dengue fever.

FULCRO INSURANCE

PO Box 9024048

San Juan, PR 00902-4048

Tel. 787-725-5880

Fax. 787-721-0959

www.fulcroinsurance.com

Health in Balance Augu

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Preventing Infections 1

Back to School… With Healthy Snacks

2

There are Only... 24 Hours a Day

2

Health - Your Concern as a Consumer

3

Hurricane Season… Are you Ready

3

Discover the Colors of Nutrition

4

In This Edition: Page

Nutrition Tip: The Food Label

4

PREVENTING INFECTIONPREVENTING INFECTIONPREVENTING INFECTIONPREVENTING INFECTIONS S S S

The dengue fever is caused by a virus

transmitted through the mosquito bite.

Specifically the mosquito known as

Aedes Aegipty. There is no known cure

for the dengue fever but there is a way

of interrupting the mosquito life cycle.

The mosquito lays it’s eggs in

accumulated water. During the rain

season, it is recommended to revise the

house surroundings to identify places

were the rain water can accumulate

(plastic containers, tires, water tanks,

and other) and empty them or

eliminate them.

To prevent other types of infection , try

the following:

• Learn how to manage food

appropriately

• Keep your house and car clean

• Talk to your doctor about

vaccination

• Take your pets to the veterinary to

be checked and vaccinated

Talk to your doctor or health

professional about other ways of

preventing infections that can help you

remain healthy.

Information obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Puerto Rico Department of Health

School is back and with it

our concern of providing

our kids healthy snacks.

Snacks are useful in providing our kids with important

nutrients while help curve their appetite. They also help to

prevent the negative effects of low levels of glucose in the

blood stream. The quality of the snacks is also important.

When preparing healthy snack tray the following:

1. Eliminate junk food from your house and your kids

lunchbox - Avoid bagged chips, sweet cookies, sodas

and juice drinks with added sugar.

2. Try whole grain - Include whole grain breads, crackers,

pretzels, tortillas and others that have at least 2g of fiber

or more per serving.

3. Don’t forget the fruit - Try to include any type of fruit in

the lunchbox. If you choose canned fruit, select those

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that are canned in their own juice or water. You can

also consider dry fruits. If you do not have fresh fruit, you

can use 100% juice, without added sugar.

4. Vegetables are our friends - Don’t be frighten by

veggies; include them as part of snacks. You can also try

juice and vegetables blends.

5. Remember the milk, yogurt and cheese as alternatives

6. Portions counts- the purpose of snacking is to help curve

your child’s appetite not to ruin it. When packing snacks,

consider the appropriate portions.

Try new foods as part of your child’s snacks. Make the

presentation fun and attractive. Soon you will see how your

child will start to experiment with new and nutritious

alternatives in the lunchbox.

The effective management of time is one of the most difficult issues for most of us. How can you do it? What is the secret? These can be common questions in our every day life. Here are some recommendations:

1. Evaluate your current situation -determine how much time you spend in your daily activities such as sleep, home and work tasks, watch television, use the computer, among other.

2. Set priorities - Categorize each activity (work, home, family, relaxation, etc) and organize and assign specific time frame for each activity. Eliminate those activities that are not important but take up too much time.

3. Plan Ahead - Identify your highest productive time and assign the most difficult task for that period. Keep a daily agenda of home and work engagements. Don’t forget to program time for rest and relaxation (Note: without time to rest your productivity levels will decrease)

4. Once organized, stick to it - it takes time to organize your agenda; now, try to follow it. When at work, concentrate on the task at hand; at home, those pertaining the home. Also remember to be flexible. Life can bring unexpected situations that may change your priorities. If so, reevaluate and reprogram.

5. Eliminate distractions - the time spent in social pages, electronic

games, watching television, among other, can reduce your time to complete other important tasks. Leisure time is important but, as with everything else, set a specific time for it.

6. Adopt a healthier lifestyle - exercising and healthy eating habits will help you feel better and be more productive. If you feel over stressed, avoid high sugar, high sodium and high fat foods. Drink plenty of water and don’t forget to include in your daily schedule 30 minutes for exercise.

Managing effectively your time will require a little of creativity and self discipline. Once you develop a system that works for you , stick to it and you will see the difference.

Health - Your Concern as a Consumer Page 3

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such as medical plan cards, social

security cards, license, life or accident

insurance documents, birth certificates,

etc.

• Learn how to manage food properly

Keep all your vaccines up to date

Prepare a supply kit that include:

• Water

• Canned food

• First Aid kits

• Personal hygiene kit

• House cleaning equipment

If possible, take a CPR or First Aid training

Put emergency numbers in a safe and visible

place (Emergency Services, Civil Defense,

Red Cross, Police Department, Fire

Department, etc.)

Have flashlights and a battery operated radio.

Above all… Keep yourself informed!

We are in the middle of hurricane season in

the Atlantic Ocean. The season started on

June 1 and ends on November 30. The Puerto

Rico Department of Health and the National

Weather Service recommends the following:

Get to know the risks in your area (strong

winds, floods, landslides, service interruption,

etc.)

Develop a safety plan for your properties

• Secure windows and doors and any

material that can become a projectile

during high winds

• Keep important documents in a sealed

container (house, car and other

properties)

• Review your insurance policies

• Clean surrounding drains

• Keep your trees and bushes trimmed

Develop a plan to protect your family’s health

• Keep with you, important documents

Hurricane Season… ¿Are You Ready?

Hurricanes Season

June 1 to

November 30

In second place, get to know

all of your benefits. If you have

health insurance, get to know

your coverage, limitations and

exclusions. Review your

deductible and copayments.

Call your health insurance

company and ask for additional

programs or services that may

be available and may help you

save some money.

Last but not least, ask all the

questions you figure necessary

to clarify your doubts about

your treatment, medications,

benefits, etc. That is you what

makes you a savvy health

consumer.

you pay for health care

services, that makes you a

health consumer. A consumer

with rights as well as duties.

The first thing you have to do is

to increase your knowledge on

your current health status. Talk

to your doctor about your

diagnostic and treatment. If

you think you may forget any

information… write it down!

Look for additional information

like informational brochures in

respectable web pages, talk to

your pharmacist, call available

health help lines, etc. Write any

doubts or concerns and seek

clarification.

Are you one of those patients

that have adopted a more

active attitude in your health

care management? If you

answer is no, you should know

that your health care is not only

your doctors responsibility.

The patient and his family play

an important role in the

decision making. Transforming

your attitude from a passive

patient to a more active one, is

essential for your health care.

In other words, you have to

turn yourself into a health

consumer. A consumer is

defined as any person that

pays for products or services. If

When talking

about nutrition,

usually we think

about the

nutritional

restrictions we

most commonly

hear: eat less fat, eat less salt, eat less sugar…

Nutrition is much more than that! In a simple

definition, we can say that nutrition is the science

that studies food, it’s nutrients and how these can

benefit our bodies.

We have heard about the five food groups: grains,

vegetables, fruits, milk and meat and beans. In these

variety of group there are two specific groups that are

less consumed and are the most beneficial for your

health... Yes, you know them... Fruits and vegetables!

The frequent use of these food groups have been

related to the reduction of cardiovascular disease,

diabetes, cancer, among other conditions. The majority

of these foods have a wide variety of nutrients, like

vitamins and minerals as well as the much needed

fiber.

Don’t limit yourself in your experience with these types

of foods. If you try some new food and you don’t like

the taste, don’t generalize your decision. There is a

wide variety of alternatives of fruit and vegetables. All

with different colors, textures and taste. There is also a

variety of cooking methods. If you think you are not

ready to eat vegetables “a la natural”, consider adding

dressings or combine them with other food groups until

you develop a taste for them. The important this is to

include them as part of your daily diet.

It is probable that you may be missing out on a

pleasant experience and yes… a healthy experience for

you and your family.

Discover the colors of nutrition!

DISCOVER THE COLORS OF NUTRITION

Identify the portion size and the amount Identify the portion size and the amount Identify the portion size and the amount Identify the portion size and the amount of portions per container/packageof portions per container/packageof portions per container/packageof portions per container/package

Determine the amount of caloriesDetermine the amount of caloriesDetermine the amount of caloriesDetermine the amount of calories

Evaluate the amount of fat and sodiumEvaluate the amount of fat and sodiumEvaluate the amount of fat and sodiumEvaluate the amount of fat and sodium

Choose foods that the Choose foods that the Choose foods that the Choose foods that the Total Fat is 3g or less is 3g or less is 3g or less is 3g or less

and that the and that the and that the and that the Sodium is 140 mg or lessis 140 mg or lessis 140 mg or lessis 140 mg or less

Revise the nutritional content Revise the nutritional content Revise the nutritional content Revise the nutritional content of the carbohydratesof the carbohydratesof the carbohydratesof the carbohydrates

Prefer those higher in fiber Prefer those higher in fiber Prefer those higher in fiber Prefer those higher in fiber (2g or more per serving) (2g or more per serving) (2g or more per serving) (2g or more per serving)

and limit those with high sugar content.and limit those with high sugar content.and limit those with high sugar content.and limit those with high sugar content. To verify if sugar has been added, read the To verify if sugar has been added, read the To verify if sugar has been added, read the To verify if sugar has been added, read the

ingredient list and look for words like “sucrose, ingredient list and look for words like “sucrose, ingredient list and look for words like “sucrose, ingredient list and look for words like “sucrose, glucose, fructose, corn syrup, maple syrup”. glucose, fructose, corn syrup, maple syrup”. glucose, fructose, corn syrup, maple syrup”. glucose, fructose, corn syrup, maple syrup”.

Make sure that these ingredients are not in the Make sure that these ingredients are not in the Make sure that these ingredients are not in the Make sure that these ingredients are not in the first few items in the ingredient list.first few items in the ingredient list.first few items in the ingredient list.first few items in the ingredient list.

Identify the amount of vitamin Identify the amount of vitamin Identify the amount of vitamin Identify the amount of vitamin and minerals and minerals and minerals and minerals

Choose foods with higher amounts Choose foods with higher amounts Choose foods with higher amounts Choose foods with higher amounts

in these categoriesin these categoriesin these categoriesin these categories

Know the amount of protein in the foodKnow the amount of protein in the foodKnow the amount of protein in the foodKnow the amount of protein in the food

Don’t forget to check the amount of fat Don’t forget to check the amount of fat Don’t forget to check the amount of fat Don’t forget to check the amount of fat in these types of foods in these types of foods in these types of foods in these types of foods

Learn to choose your food Nutrition Tip: The Food Label

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