Wellfie Wednesday Tip #123: No-Shave November / Movember

Happy Wellfie Wednesday! Wellcome back! This week is brought to you by Patrick (@TheFuelPhysio). It’s that time of the year again and I’m sure you’ve started recognizing it, as those men participating are already 7 days in! And no, they haven’t suddently forgotten how to shave or started living outdoors, though that could be possible. But it’s safe to say most men you’ve seen growing out their facial hair are doing it as part of No-Shave November or Movember.

The goal is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. In particular, awareness to prostate and testicular cancer, but also giving awareness to men’s mental health. If you didn’t know, upwards of 1 in 9 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and that’s a pretty significant number when you think about it. As with most types of cancer, early detection can be key in reducing mortality rates; however many men go undiagnosed until it is too late.

No-Shave November or Movember are both non-profit organizations with their own little twists to help promote and prevent these conditions. Check out their sites and donate to the cause if you can. If you’re already partaking, tag a #WellfieWednesday and let us see how things are looking. If not, it’s never too late to join; just put down the razor and Let it Grow!

Thanks for all of the support, be sure to post your pictures this week and tag the WW crew members in your post (@TheFuelPhysio, @Eric_in_AmERICa, @FreestylePhysio, @DianaKlatt) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

-WW Crew

Wellness Wednesday Tip #19: Support Prostate Cancer Awareness!

Happy #WellfieWednesday friends!

     This week’s tip is in celebration of the organizations Movember and No-Shave November that raise awareness for Prostate and Testicular Cancer. Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men, affecting over 175,000 men each year and leading to over 26,000 deaths. Testicular Cancer is the most common type of cancer in men from 15 - 40 years old, and while treatment is typically very effective, 1 in 20 men will still die from this disease. As with most types of cancer, early detection can be key in reducing mortality rates; however many men go undiagnosed until it is too late. That’s where organizations like these come.

     Growing a beard or mustache isn’t just for hipsters anymore. The Movember Foundation and No-Shave November encourage guys to use their unique facial hair as a conversation starter to improve awareness for regular cancer screenings. Both organizations also raise funds for cancer research, with Movember reporting an amazing $16 million raised in 2015. To learn more about how to get involved, or to find out more about cancer research, check out the websites below.

• Movember Foundation: https://us.movember.com/?home
• No-Shave November: https://no-shave.org/
• Cancer Statistics and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/
• Prostate Cancer Foundation: https://www.pcf.org/

     So show off that facial hair on social media and thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures again this week and tag Patrick (@PBernerSPT) or myself (@Eric_in_AmERICa) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

- Dr. Eric Uveges, PT, DPT

- Dr. Patrick Berner, PT, DPT

Wellness Wednesday Tip #16: Keep Those Pumpkin Seeds & Reap Their Benefits!

Happy Wellfie Wednesday Everyone!

     I hope you all are enjoying the fall season! For me, this is my first exposure to the leaves changing. As you would expect, some parts of the south are not known for having the four seasons, so it has been great to watch the foliage while currently living outside of Boston.

White mountains, New Hampshire, October 2016

     So with fall in mind comes this week’s tip. Keep Those Pumpkin Seeds & Reap Their Benefits! With Halloween approaching, I’m sure most of you will spend some time carving pumpkins. My girlfriend and I carved one a few days ago, and by that I mean she carved it while I messed around with the seeds. A Google search gives you tons of different recipes and instructions on how to roast them, so it’s hard to say which is the best until you try them all. Here are a few links to check out.

AllRecipes

FoodNetwork

WholeFoods

     My biggest advice is to watch them carefully; I’ve learned that pumpkin seeds can burn rather easily.

     Why eat them you may ask. Here are some reasons:

     Roasted pumpkin seeds are a good source of protein, omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, magnesium, zinc, copper, potassium, manganese, iron, and antioxidants.(1) They are said to aid in heart and prostate health, provide immune system support, and reduce the risk of certain cancers. Keep in mind most of these claims are based on the nutritional components of pumpkin seeds; studies specifically looking at pumpkin seeds are limited.

     Keep those seeds and try them roasted! Let us know how it goes. And as always, thanks again for all of the #WellfieWednesday support, be sure to post your pictures again this week and tag Eric (@Eric_in_AmERICa) or myself (@PBernerSPT) and keep the wave of healthy change going!

-       Dr. Patrick Berner, PT, DPT

-       Dr. Eric Uveges, PT, DPT

1. http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/nut-and-seed-products/3141/2