Prepare to be active at next Fresh Conversations session set for April 26

Spring is a time of preparation and activity. Gardeners and farmers use this time of year to prepare for the upcoming growing season. Other people find it a great season to houseclean or declutter.

Regardless of that preference, the warm weather inspires people to clean out flowerpots, rake up winter’s leftovers and begin digging in the dirt. Everyone can be better prepared for gardening or other favorite activities this spring by taking two important steps, checking their vitamin D status and practicing muscle-strengthening movements every day.

Most may be aware that vitamin D is important for calcium absorption and bone strength. But they may not know that vitamin D also helps maintain muscle strength.
The local congregate meal site’s Fresh Conversations program for April will discuss the facts and myths surrounding vitamin D. April’s Fresh Conversations program will be held at the Waukon Wellness Center, Senior Center Tuesday, April 26 at 11:15 a.m. Local facilitator Tatum Miller from Good Samaritan Society-Waukon will lead the discussion.
Deciphering the pros and cons of vitamin D supplementation is the central theme of this month’s Fresh Conversations discussion. Most older adults need 800 International Units (IU) of vitamin D daily. However, vitamin D stores itself in the body until it is used, so this makes it important to not ingest excessive amounts. Besides supplementation, participants will discover good food sources, such as dairy, eggs and tuna.

Exploring new foods is the best part of every Fresh Conversations program. The recipe for the month of April is edamame salad. Edamame is a fancy name for boiled green soybeans. This spring salad is high in protein and rich in vitamins. It can be eaten as a main course or a side dish at mealtime.

As the sun brightens the days and warmer weather arrives, it is tempting to get outside or tackle in-door spring-cleaning projects, but sometimes it is easy to overdo. To help get their bodies ready for spring, participants will practice leg strengthening chair activities that get legs and knees ready for more active months. Strengthening one’s legs and knees also helps combat the painful and activity-limiting effects of arthritis. Join a local Fresh Conversations meeting and try out new exercises as well as tips for getting daily doses of activity.

Fresh Conversations is a free program offered by Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging (NEI3A) and designed to promote sharing and peer support. Stop in at the Waukon Wellness Center-Senior Center Tuesday, April 26 at 11:15 a.m. and take part in the program. Anyone interested in staying for a meal should contact Betty Johnson, meal site manager, by calling 563-568-0074 for reservations.