Managing our money is not an easy task. University of Illinois Extension has offered several workshops this winter to help individuals improve their management skills. Whether it's working with youth, individuals with limited resources, grain marketing for farmers or adults making retirement plans, there are learning opportunities available to improve money management skills. There are computer programs as well as Internet sites that can help an individual work through their particular situation. Reducing consumer debt is a financial goal for many individuals. We want to help people obtain the information they need to achieve their financial goals.

Please contact us at the Extension office and let us know how we can help. Whether through a program workshop or working individually, our staff is available with resources and are interested in helping you.

Apples

The old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" has plenty of merit. Apples contain pectin and fiber—the stuff that keeps everything moving in our bodies.

Blueberries

These little jewels may have more antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable. The same chemical that gives blueberries their color also combats free-radical damage linked to heart disease and cancer.

Garlic

This stinking little herb may help protect the heart. Studies show that the same chemicals that make garlic smell so bad can reduce cholesterol and may make the blood less sticky. Scientists are also fairly confident that garlic has antibacterial and antifungal powers.

Broccoli

Broccoli packs a nutritional wallop. It may help detoxify cancer-causing substances before they have a chance to cause harm. Studies have linked regular consumption of cruciferous vegetables like broccoli to reduced risk of breast, colon and stomach cancers.

Spinach

Popeye was right—spinach is good for you. It's loaded with iron and folate, a B vitamin that is so important that it is now added to flour. Folate lowers blood levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that irritates blood vessels and is linked to heart disease. Folate also contains chemicals that seem to ward off macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness.

Tomatoes

Researchers are touting the benefits of cooked tomato products for reducing the risk of prostate cancer and other cancers of the digestive tract. Tomatoes contain the phytochemical lycopene, one of the most powerful antioxidants discovered to date. Lycopene is released from tomatoes when they are cooked. It's most easily absorbed when a small amount of oil is added.

Salmon and other Seafood

Cold-water fish like salmon are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that help the heart. Omega-3s seem to prevent platelets in the blood from clumping together and sticking to the arteries in the form of plaque. Experts say that we should eat seafood twice a week.

Legumes

Legumes—dried beans and peas—are rich in protein and high in calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron. And, legumes are low in fat. They are also rich in soluble fiber that helps lower and regulate blood glucose levels in diabetics.

Whole Grains

Whole wheat flour, oatmeal, barley, couscous, and millet are just some of the wonderful whole grains available in grocery stores. Whole grains eaten daily can help lower cholesterol and may help lower blood pressure.

Nuts

When eaten in moderation, nuts can be a heart-healthy food. This is because the fat in nuts—monounsaturated and polyunsaturated—are the good fats. When eaten in small amounts, nuts can lower LDL (the bad cholesterol) and raise HDL (the good cholesterol). The trick is to eat small amounts, not a bowl-full!

Each year poison control centers report nearly one million children under the age of five are exposed to poisonous medicines and household chemicals. Medicines, household substances, insect sprays, kerosene, lighter fluid, furniture polishes, turpentine, paints, solvents and products containing lye and acids are the most frequent causes of poisoning among young children.
We know it is our responsibility to use and store potentially harmful products safely away from children. It is good to take an inventory of your home and clean out the medicine cabinet periodically.

Steps to take in the case of poisoning:

1. It is important to REMAIN CALM.
2. Call the poison center, your physician, or the number on the back of the label of the product (if present). The Poison Control Center is at 1-800-942-5969.
3. Have the following information ready:
   • Age of child
   • Your name and phone number
   • Name of product and ingredients. Have the product label present when you call.
   • Amount involved
   • Time poisoning occurred
   • Any symptoms
4. The poison center or your doctor will give you instructions what to do next.
5. Know how to give first aid if a poisoning occurs.

Inhaled poison: Immediately get the person to fresh air. Avoid breathing fumes. Open doors and windows wide. If victim is not breathing, start CPR.

Swallowed poison: For corrosive chemicals give milk or water to drink immediately, then call for professional help. For anything else, call for advice about whether to make the individual vomit.

Poison in the eye: Flood the eye with lukewarm water poured from a large glass 2 or 3 inches from the eye. Repeat for 15 minutes. Have patient blink as much as possible while flooding the eye. Do not force the eyelid open.

Poison on the skin: Remove contaminated clothing and flood skin with water for 10 minutes. Then wash gently with soap and water and rinse.

The Illinois Poison Center (IPC) alerts consumers that syrup of ipecac and activated charcoal are no longer recommended at-home treatments for poisoning or suspected poisoning cases by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). If a poisoning or suspected poisoning occurs, the IPC joins the AAP in urging individuals to contact a regional poison center immediately at (800) 222-1222 for free, confidential treatment recommendations.

Participate in a teleconference seminar to learn more about long-term health care insurance. What You Need to Know about Buying Long-term Health Care Insurance is scheduled for Thursday, March 18 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Questions you may be asking yourself about long-term health care insurance will be addressed, such as:

• How likely am I to need long-term health care?
• How can I better understand terms used in long-term care insurance policies?
• Can I afford to pay long-term care insurance premiums?
• What do I need to know about insurance companies who sell LTC policies?
• What is important to include in a policy?
• How can I be creative to design an affordable plan policy to fit my needs?

Join University of Illinois experts and Certified Financial Planners in a dynamic discussion about long-term care insurance. Plus, you can ask questions of the panel of speakers during the teleconference seminar. Contact the Extension Office at 333-7672 to register.

A website designed for children in grades 3 through 5 who have little or no opportunity to visit the woods has been unveiled by University of Illinois Extension. A Walk in the Woods can be found on Extension's Urban Programs Resources site at: http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/woods/index.html .

The site, which is part of the Schools On-Line section, is divided into several sections, including a virtual walk in the woods that features narration. Students can also click on various icons and learn about the animals and plants they might see. There is also a section containing tips on getting ready for a walk in the woods, including precautions and trail etiquette. A teachers' guide is included on the site to enhance classroom use. A ‘Fun Things' section includes activities children can do as well as a ‘journal' they can keep to record the things they see when visiting a woods.

This site will hopefully help children gain an understanding of the plants and animals that might experience during a walk in the woods as well as help them develop an appreciation of nature. Whether youth or adult, the web site provides a wonderful inter-active learning experience.

Champaign County 4-H member Neal Stephenson has been selected as one of the top winners in the 2004 4-H Premier LCP Award, sponsored by Illinois Farm Bureau & Affiliates Youth Education Committee. As a winner Neal will attend this year's Premier 20 Leadership Conference in Bloomington.

The 4-H Premier LCP Award is sponsored for older 4-H members in Illinois. The purpose of the award is to reward members exhibiting outstanding leadership, citizenship, cooperation and professionalism during the past 4-H program year.

Neal is the son of Gary and Sue Stephenson, Champaign, and is an 8-year member of the Champaign Mixed Clovers 4-H Club.