County Pass Nation's First Childhood Obesity Ordinance to Address Restaurant Toy Giveaways
San José -The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance proposed by Board President Ken Yeager that is the first of its kind in the United States.  The new law will combat childhood obesity by preventing restaurants from using toys and other incentives to lure kids to meals that are high in fat, sugar and calories.
Restaurants encourage children to choose specific menu items by linking them with free toys and other incentive items, and research shows that parents frequently make purchases based on requests made by children.  In 2006, the Federal Trade Commission estimated that restaurants sold 1.2 billion meals accompanied by toys to children under 12. While there are currently no nutritional standards for  meals marketed to children, a 2008 study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest found that 10 out of 12 meals exceeding the recommended caloric limits for children came with toys.
"This ordinance levels the playing field," said Yeager.  "It helps parents make the choices they want for their children without toys and other freebies luring them toward food that fails to meet basic nutritional standards."
One in four youth in Santa Clara county are either overweight or obese, and one in three low-income children in Santa Clara County between ages two and five are overweight or obese.  Nationally, childhood obesity has tripled since the 1970s.  Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.  Thirty percent of boys and 40% of girls born in 2000 will be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which can result in the loss of, on average, 10-15 years of life.
The ordinance imposes very specific, common-sense restrictions.  Restaurants cannot use toys as rewards for buying foods that have excessive calories (more than 120 for a beverage, 200 for a single food item or 485 for a meal), excessive sodium (480 mg for a single food item or 600 mg for a meal), excessive fat (more than 35% of total calories from fat), or excessive sugar (more than 10% of calories from added sweeteners.)  The criteria are based on nationally recognized standards for children's health created by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and recommendations for children's food published by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
The ordinance affects all restaurants in the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County.  Before going into effect, the ordinance requires a second reading that will happen at the May 11 Board of Supervisor's meeting.  Restaurants will then be granted a 90-day grace period.  During that time, restaurants will be given the opportunity offer alternative measures to meet the goals of the ordinance.  If no suitable alternative is created and adopted by the Board of Supervisors, the ordinance will go into effect.

Red Cross to Hold Drawings for $100 Home Depot Gift Cards
OAKLAND.- During the month of May, all presenting blood donors with the American Red Cross Northern California Region can enter a drawing for a $100 Home Depot gift card. The Red Cross will hold four weekly drawings (four winners in all).
The need for blood for those who are sick and injured is constant, and just one donation may help save the lives of up to three people.
Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet height and weight requirements (at least 110 pounds based on height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.  Call 1-800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment.
Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive identification to your appointment.

Relax: It's Good For Your Digestion
(NAPSA)-You can add yet another item to the already long list of reasons it's important to relax-digestive health.
The role of stress is widely known to disrupt the digestive system and doctors say that plenty of overworked, overtired people find themselves constipated simply because they can't unwind, especially in today's tough economic climate.
"The first question I ask clients who are constipated is 'What can you delegate?'" says D. Milton Stokes, MPH, RD, CDN, a registered dietitian. "All too often, people try to take on too much-especially at work, where office pressures cause people to delay going to the bathroom. That worsens constipation."
Of course, if your idea of reducing stress involves taking a much-needed vacation or hitting a few social gatherings or parties, be sure to keep an eye on what you eat. Overeating-especially if you're indulging in high-fat dips, fried foods, cheese and even cocktails-can lead to constipation.
Smart Solutions
Dietitians often counsel clients on making simple lifestyle changes to improve their digestive health, but there may be times when a laxative is needed. In those cases, Stokes suggests using a gentle product such as Senokot(r) Tablets to provide relief. The tablets contain a natural vegetable laxative ingredient that provides overnight relief from occasional constipation. Still, it's important to also know what might trigger constipation. Stokes offers these tips:
•     "Diet is probably the most common contributor to constipation that I see with my clients. Portions have ballooned, people eat out more, and now more meals come from quick-service restaurants," says Stokes. He suggests incorporating plenty of high-fiber vegetables into meals and drinking lots of water.
•     Too little exercise ranks as the second-most-common cause of constipation among Stokes' clients. "Exercise helps promote bowel regularity while inactivity aggravates it," he explains. "Individuals who lack adequate exercise are more prone to constipation."
•     Prescription medications-including certain pain medicines, antidepressants, iron supplements and antacids-can cause constipation. "After surgery, patients are usually restricted to bed rest and minimal food and fluids. Couple that with pain medication and constipation is assured," says Stokes. "For these instances, I recommend Senokot-S(r) Tablets, which include a stool softener."
For more information and savings, visit www.getconstipation relief.com.

Reducing stress could improve digestive health.