September 2007
Monthly Newsletter; Issue Number 09-07

SUMMER SQUASH: IS THERE MUCH DIFFERENCE IN
NUTRITION BETWEEN YELLOW SQUASH AND ZUCCHINI?

For the most part, you're getting similar nutrients whether you choose the generally green-skinned zucchini or the generally yellow-skinned crookneck or straight-neck squash. Both are very low in calories (20-25 calories in a cup of raw slices). And both are good sources of dietary fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, folate, magnesium, potassium and manganese.

Yellow squash is generally higher in copper. Zucchini offers more Vitamin K and riboflavin and is chock-full of three carotenoids: beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin.

For example, a cup of sliced, boiled yellow squash has 175 micrograms of beta carotene and 570 micrograms of lutein and zeaxanthin. The same amount of zucchini has 1,200 micrograms of beta carotene and 2,070 micrograms of lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, one of the leading causes of blindness. Beta carotene is converted to Vitamin A in the body, which plays an important role for many functions: vision, bone growth, reproduction, the immune system, and cell division and differentiation.

Whichever kind of summer squash you choose, be sure to eat the skin. That's where most of the nutrients are.

Summer squash is versatile. Raw, it can be chopped, sliced or grated for salads, wraps or veggie trays. To serve hot, it can be baked, steamed, boiled, grilled or cooked with tomatoes, onions, peppers, eggplant or other vegetables for ratatouille. Grated squash adds nutrients and moisture to quick breads, muffins and other baked goods.

When choosing summer squash, select ones that are firm and fairly heavy for their size, with bright, glossy skin. Avoid any with nicks, bruises or soft spots -- punctures can lead to decay.

Unfortunately, the ideal storage temperature for summer squash is somewhere between 41 and 50°F-- too cool for the kitchen counter, and too warm for the refrigerator. Still, experts recommend placing summer squash in a plastic bag to help it retain its internal moisture and storing it in your refrigerator's vegetable crisper. Don't wash or cut summer squash until you're ready to use it. Under these conditions, summer squash should retain its quality for at least three to five days.
Source: Chow Line, Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

GERMS AT THE GYM

Not everyone who lurks at the gym has paid their dues! Cold and flu viruses, as well as germs that cause athlete's foot, Staph infections and even ringworm, hang around and wait to go home with unsuspecting members.
The gym is full of damp, moist surfaces where bacteria and viruses can thrive. Locker rooms are an obvious source, but exercise machines, free weights, yoga mats, and even water-fountain buttons - in fact, any place that hands touch or that attracts body sweat- are breeding grounds. The germs that lurk there can easily transfer from infected surfaces to hands and from your hands to your eyes, nose and mouth, thus spreading infection.

Gym Germ Control

When selecting a gym, look for one that is committed to cleaning and disinfecting surfaces on at least a daily basis. Nancy Bock, at The Soap and Detergent Association, recommends a proactive approach:

• Be considerate of fellow members - keep a towel handy to prevent your sweat from dripping onto
  the machines.
  
• At the beginning and end of each segment of your exercise regime, wipe down the surface of the equipment you use with a clean towel. If your gym provides a cleaning or disinfecting solution, use it as well.
  
• Wash your hands after using the exercise equipment.
  
• Launder weight-training gloves after using them, if they are washable, or replace them often.
  
• Avoid bare feet in the locker room and showers - waterproof shower sandals or slides should be part of your gym wardrobe.

TEMPERMENT

Two children in the same family can be complete opposites. One may be easy-going and pleasant, and the other can drive you crazy! Why does this happen? What can you do?

What you're talking about is not really behavior, but temperament. And yes, there are things you can do: you can adjust your parenting style according to each child's personality. Treating your children differently doesn't mean you love them unequally -- it means that you recognize that they are individuals and each deserve care and attention that best fits their unique characteristics.

Remember, what might drive you batty today can be what makes a child successful later in life. The class clown might grow up to be a famous comedian. The kid who negotiates every single thing could become a successful attorney. Even if you have an out-of-control, difficult, strong-willed child, try to look beyond behavioral problems to the underlying qualities that could prove beneficial as an adult.

Researchers have identified nine traits to assess temperament:

1. Activity level. Some children are always on the go; others have a preference for stillness.
   
2. Distractibility. Children who are easily distracted sometimes have trouble finishing a task, but it's also easy to divert them when they begin doing something undesirable.
   
3. Intensity. Some children react strongly, either positively or negatively, to both major and minor events. Others tend to be calmer, no matter what.
   
4. Regularity. In terms of when they prefer to eat and sleep, some children are like clockwork, while others are totally unpredictable.
   
5. Sensory Threshold. This relates to how sensitive your child is to sounds, tastes, touch, temperature -- all sorts of physical stimuli.
   
6. Approach/Withdrawal. Children react differently to new people and new situations.
   
7. Adaptability. Some children are comfortable transitioning to and from activities; some are more hesitant.
   
8. Persistence. Some children continue activities even when they encounter roadblocks; others tend to stop or ask for assistance.
   
9. Mood. Children can have a generally positive outlook on life, or they may tend to be more serious about situations.

All of these characteristics have pros and cons. None are "good" or "bad" in all situations. It's important to understand your child's inborn temperamental qualities -- as well as your own. Temperament doesn't change. What can change is how people -- both children and adults -- can learn to direct their natural energies and instincts in a positive way.
Source: Family Fundamentals, Ohio State University Extension and the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

Sincerely,

 

Janice M. Ronan	Holly K. Hedstrom
Extension Educator - Family Living/4-H	County Extension Director
Lynn B. Clint		tlv
Extension Educator - Family and Consumer Sciences		9/5/07

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