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News Filed Under Health and Wellness

A woman scrapes vegetable scraps off a cutting board into a countertop compost bin.
February 21, 2024 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Lawn and Garden, Flower Gardens, Vegetable Gardens, Natural Resources, Waste Management

RAYMOND, Miss. -- Many of the practices associated with sustainability, such as recycling, can be extended into the garden. Composting is a way to help reduce organic waste that goes to the landfill and helps feed gardens. These organic materials, which include grass clippings, leaves and other yard wastes, account for about 30% of trash that goes to the landfill.

September 15, 2023 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Mental Health First Aid

STARKVILLE, Miss. – A Mississippi State University Extension instructor has been selected to a national Extension Foundation committee focused on improving mental health.

Boy with blue backpack.
August 14, 2023 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Children and Parenting

Now that school is back in session for many of us, everyone is getting back into the swing of things.

July 27, 2023 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness

Mississippi adults will continue to be offered science-based vaccine information by the Mississippi State University Extension Service with help from a national grant.

MSU Extension received the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement, or EXCITE, grant to provide adult vaccine education in Mississippi. MSU was one of 37 institutions chosen for this award.

Man leads room full of teenagers in dance exercise.
April 25, 2023 - Filed Under: 4-H, Health and Wellness, Food and Health, Health, Rural Health

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Community improvement starts with a volunteer spirit and a desire to serve as a role model for positive change.

In north Mississippi, plenty of teenagers are ready to step up. They just need to know how to help.

The Mississippi State University Extension Service 4-H program hosted 69 14- to 18-year-olds April 22 at the Mill Conference Center in Starkville to help some of these future leaders learn not just how to lead, but also how to take care of themselves and help their peers during challenging times.

A woman stands in a kitchen.
April 11, 2023 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Food, Nutrition

Millions of Americans have food allergies. While some may outgrow food allergies, many others do not. Food allergies are common in young children and tend to appear during the first or second year of life. Check out the tips I use to help me navigate as a mom of a child with food allergies.

Stressed-out man with head in his hands.
April 3, 2023 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Disaster Response, Mental Health First Aid

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- After natural disasters, food and shelter are prioritized well above mental health, but ignoring emotional distress can lead to serious physical health conditions.

March 10, 2023 - Filed Under: 4-H, Health and Wellness, Leadership, Community, Junior Master Wellness Volunteer, Health, Nutrition and Wellness

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Teens can learn how to become active role models for healthy lifestyle change in their communities at an April 22 summit at the Mill Conference Center in Starkville.

The Promoting Healthy Living Through Community Connections Summit, wihch is open to 14- to 18-year-olds from northern Mississippi, will offer interactive educational sessions on nutrition, mental health awareness, community and civic engagement, and health promotion, wellness and physical activity.

Sick man lying on sofa checking his temperature at home in the living room
December 7, 2022 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Family, Food and Health, Health

STARKVILLE, Miss. – Flu hospitalizations in the U.S. have reached the highest level in a decade, but it is not too late to get protected during these peak months.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rated 34 U.S. states and the District of Columbia as having the highest levels of flu activity possible on its scale during the week ending November 26. Mississippi was one of the first states to reach that threshold early that month.

A mixture of vegetables.
September 30, 2022 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Food and Health, Nutrition

The holidays are coming up and we all know what that means. Food, food, and more food! During these festivities, it’s important to remember to eat your vegetables, too.

fruit smoothies
September 12, 2022 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Health

Did you know that some key lifestyle changes can help decrease our risk of cognitive decline or poor brain health? Check out these five tips to begin loving your brain better.

Vial of monkeypox vaccine ready to be injected
July 27, 2022 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Diseases, Health

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Though monkeypox is not as easily spread as COVID-19, it has become a public health concern as documented case counts approach 4,000 nationwide.

The monkeypox virus is part of the same family of viruses as smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms but milder. Infections in this outbreak are from the West African type, which has an infection fatality rate of 1% and is considered the milder of the two types of the virus.

A woman stands in front of a tennis court
June 14, 2022 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Food and Health, Health

Regular physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health. No matter your age, you can gain many long-term benefits from being active, like improving your strength, supporting emotional and mental health, and helping manage or prevent illnesses.

A woman stands at a kitchen counter.
April 12, 2022 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Food, Nutrition

Seeds are an excellent source of fiber, healthy fats, and many important vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They are a great way to add some crunch with a nutritional punch!

Two women load an ice chest on a bus.
March 15, 2022 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Nutrition and Wellness, Nutrition

Dependable, good nutrition is key to children’s successful development, a fact that brings hundreds of organizations and individuals into action when a disruption threatens lifelong impacts. Such a disruption came in March 2020 when the pandemic lockdown made school virtual. Thousands of Mississippi children who relied on school cafeterias for breakfast and lunch were suddenly without a huge percentage of their daily nutrition. Many school districts leaped into action, using existing bus routes to deliver meals to students a few times a week.

Trays of food are on a table.
November 22, 2021 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Food and Health, Food

Good times and good food lead to unwanted holiday weight gain for many people, but the year can end on a positive note when a few guidelines are followed.

A woman kneels behind a planter on a brick patio.
November 2, 2021 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Nutrition and Wellness

For every reason to eat excessively, someone is pushing a diet plan to reverse the scales, but there’s more to a healthy weight than consuming fewer calories and burning more energy. Weight gain can be brought on by the holiday season, the “freshman 15,” or the first year of marriage. In recent months, many have struggled with the “COVID 19” -- weight gain brought on by mental health struggles and isolation

Medical worker in protective clothing takes a throat swab from a male patient.
September 10, 2021 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Health, Coronavirus

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The risk of infection and hospitalization from COVID-19 is significantly higher in unvaccinated people, but some fully vaccinated people are also being infected due to the contagiousness of the delta variant of the virus.

Though no vaccine is 100% effective, it is the best method to avoid contracting the virus or suffering a severe illness from a breakthrough infection, said Dr. Tami Brooks, Starkville physician and retired professor of pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Medicine.

Mosquito
August 13, 2021 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness

If theres one thing we can all agree on, its that mosquitos are no fun to have around. Mosquitos are often most active when the temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, meaning they are around in Mississippi for a large chunk of the year. 

Two medical ampoules of COVID-19 vaccine with a syringe.
August 9, 2021 - Filed Under: Health and Wellness, Coronavirus

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- With the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreading three times as easily as previous strains in Mississippi and unvaccinated patients comprising most of the state’s cases, receiving the vaccine is now more critical than ever to slow the spread.

State health leaders are strongly encouraging Mississippians still grappling with vaccine hesitancy to consult governmental sources when seeking out data to inform their decisions. As of Aug. 5, 39% of Mississippians had received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, while only a third were fully vaccinated.

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