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This Week's Healthy Tips

Nutrition
Springtime means an array of fresh produce in your grocery store- and at farmers' markets. Local varieties of vegetables and fruits, artisan cheeses and fresh or potted herbs are just some of the products you will find at the markets. A few pointers to make your farmers' market experience more enjoyable: Always bring a clean bag or two with you. Use a separate bag for raw and cooked foods. Pay attention to food safety practices of the vendor. Go early for the best selection. Be flexible with your purchases- the market changes with the season. Take time to talk to the vendors. With all the fresh choices available at your farmers' market, you can't go wrong.Visit https://agriculture.sc.gov/ to learn more about farmers' markets in SC! -www.eatright.org

Physical Activity
Temperature and humidity are two important factors to consider when physical activity is outdoors. Parents, teachers, and coaches need to closely supervise children playing in extreme heat. Anytime the temperature is higher than 90 F, caution needs to be taken. Morning or late evening times are recommended for physical activity. When determining if it is safe for children to play outside, take into consideration that humidity affects the body's ability to cool itself. When the temperature is below 90 F, add the temperature and humidity together. If the sum is between 130 and 150, you and your children should be cautious and limit the amount of outdoor activity. If the sum is greater than 150, vigorous outdoor activity should be avoided.
-www.cooperaerobics.com

Tobacco
Some top reasons for relapses are bad mood, a happy mood, alcohol, being offered a smoke and coffee or tea. You'll know you're in the slip zone if you start making the "I'll just have one" excuse. Here's what you can do to beat it: Tell yourself you'll light up five or ten minutes from now. If you can delay smoking, that urge will pass. Don't buy a pack in the same place you are having a craving. That guilty little walk to the convenience store may give you a few minutes to think about what you're going to do. If you do buy a pack, only take out one cigarette and destroy the rest before you light up.
-National Alliance for Tobacco Cessation, www.BecomeAnEx.org

The Healthy SC Challenge is an initiative of South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford and SCDHEC.

Welcome from the
Governor & First Lady

Welcome to the Healthy South Carolina Challenge, a results-oriented initiative that we hope will motivate each of us to start making choices that can significantly improve our health and well-being.

We all benefit as South Carolinians if we not only join together and raise awareness of the need to live well, but if we each individually exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, eat right, and do not smoke.

By acknowledging the importance of personal accountability in our lifestyle choices, we can reduce the incidence and mortality of many chronic diseases currently impacting individuals and families in our state.

We look forward to celebrating the results that these healthy changes can bring to South Carolina!

Jenny Sanford
First Lady
Mark Sanford
Governor

News & Updates

This Week’s Healthy SC Challenge Tips

$15,000 Cash Awarded to SC Students Today by First Lady Jenny Sanford and State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex

First Lady Announces Winner/Runner Up in Final Month of Healthy SC School Video Contest 07-08

"Healthy People Have More Fun" and  "Smoking Waltz" Share Special Prize

Pickens County Student Wins Big in January's Video Contest Emily Leising from D.W. Daniel High School in Easley Creates #1 Video; Greenville Fine Arts Center student is runner up- a 2nd win for that school!(01/31/2008)

Back By Popular Demand! First Lady Adds Additional Month to Successful Contest; Contest cash and prizes total $25,000 (01/31/2008)

First Lady Announces Finals in January Healthy SC School Video Contest; Contest to extend into month of February due to popular demand! (01/28/2008)

First Lady Awards $3,500 In Healthy SC School Video Contest - Greenville Fine Arts Center Student Wins December Contest; Ethan Godwin from Irmo Middle School is this week's weekly winner in competition (01/18/2008)

First Lady Announces Weekly Winner Chosen By SC Voters (01/11/2008)

First Lady Awards Students at Garrett Academy of Technology (01/04/2008)

First Lady Jenny Sanford Announces Winners of December Healthy SC School Video Contest (12/31/2007)

First Lady Announces Weekly Winner Chosen By SC Voters (12/28/2007)

SC Chooses Healthy SC School Video Contest Weekly Winner (12/21/2007)

First Lady Announces Weekly Winner Chosen by SC Voters (12/14/2007)

First Lady Jenny Sanford announced Students from Laurens District 55 High School in Laurens County Take the lead in week one of December's Healthy SC School Video Contest (pdf)

First Lady Jenny Sanford Awards Wando High School Senior Emma Hecker $3,500 for Winning Video in November’s Healthy SC School Video Contest (pdf)

Fisrt Lady Jenny Sanford announces November's Healthy SC School Video Contest winner and runner up (pdf)

Student from the Beaufort Boys and Girls Club Teen Center takes the lead in week three; Semi-Finals Round Begins Tuesday at Midnight (pdf)

First Lady announces “Anyone Can Juggle” as the weekly winner of the Healthy SC School Video Contest (pdf)

First Lady Jenny Sanford announced "Healthy Intervention" as the weekly winner of the Healthy SC School Video Contest (pdf)

First Lady Jenny Sanford and State Superintendent of Education Jim Rex Issue Healthy Challenge to South Carolina Students (pdf)

Video Contest photo

First Lady Jenny Sanford Joins Fast-Growing national Health Care Initiative: Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (pdf)

>> News & Updates Archive <<

Facts & Figures

“South Carolina is one of the unhealthiest states in the nation – ranking 46th in the country.” (US Health and Human Services Agency Study - 2004)

Physical inactivity costs our state an estimated $4,653,065,914 in medical care, workers comp and lost productivity each year – averaging about $1,466 per person. (SCDHEC & Active Living Leadership)

Smoking-related productivity losses in South Carolina reach almost TWO BILLION dollars each year. (SCDHEC)