GoHealth Urgent Care Recognizes National Nutrition Month

ATLANTA, March 7, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- GoHealth Urgent Care, one of the fastest growing urgent care companies in the U.S., is recognizing National Nutrition Month in March by sharing the importance of a balanced diet in overall wellness and tips for parents on establishing healthy eating habits for children. Poor nutrition can directly impact health and a person's ability to lead an enjoyable and active lifestyle. According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, unhealthy eating habits increase risk of diabetes, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis and more. While it can be challenging to keep up with the recommended amount of vitamins and nutrients, there are helpful strategies to ensure that you maintain a balanced diet.

"The consequences of a poor diet can have severely detrimental effects on overall health for both children and adults," said Dr. Jill Swartz, lead physician at GoHealth Urgent Care. "Encouraging healthy eating habits at a young age is an important step to ensure children receive the nutrition necessary for growth and development, and sustaining those habits into adulthood will help foster healthier communities."

In order to maintain a balanced diet filled with nutrients, Dr. Swartz encourages people to seek expert care from a physician and follow advice that includes:

• Know Your Needed Nutrients. There are six essential aspects of every healthy diet: protein, healthy fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and water. Any diet that excludes one or more of these elements will be detrimental to a person's health. For example, vitamin D deficiency can lead to stunted or defective bone growth and osteoporosis; protein is necessary for muscle growth and tissue repair; and proper hydration is crucial for healthy brain function and digestion, as well as healthy skin, joints and teeth.
• Identify Nutrient-Rich Foods. There are so many different food options that will help fulfill your nutrition needs. However, you need to do your research on which foods meet which dietary needs, and ensure you are including all essential nutrition elements in your daily meals. For example, quinoa and soy beans are great sources of protein; nuts and salmon contain healthy fats; and Greek yogurt and leafy greens are good sources of calcium, one of the most important vitamins for the body. None of those sound appealing? Consult readily available resources for lists of healthy foods and their nutritious values, and choose the options you enjoy most.
• Placate Picky Eaters. Kids are notoriously picky eaters, but it's still crucial they receive proper nutrition for their growth and development. A quick Google search will reveal a number of recipes that mask the healthy foods kids in particular don't like eating. Try cauliflower fried rice, peanut butter hummus dip with vegetables or spinach lasagna. It's also important not to force kids to eat a certain food. If you battle with your kids, they will more likely remember the tension around the food and not want to try it again. Simply encourage them to taste a variety of new dishes to decipher which healthy items they actually enjoy.
• Cook With Your Kids. Another way to encourage kids to eat healthier is to get them involved in meal preparation. If they participate in shopping for ingredients and cooking, they will be proud of their dish and most likely want to eat it. Getting your kids in the kitchen is also a great way to teach them about proper nutrition, and help establish life-long healthy habits. Giving kids a gummy vitamin daily will also ensure they get an extra boost of needed nutrition.

"Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of certain diseases and medical conditions, and we are pleased to offer these tips from Dr. Swartz in honor of National Nutrition Month," said Todd Latz, CEO of GoHealth Urgent Care. "Helping to educate our communities on proper diet and fostering healthier lifestyles is an important component of our Culture of Care."

To learn more about GoHealth Urgent Care, please visit www.gohealthuc.com. If interested in speaking with Dr. Swartz for further information and advice related to proper nutrition, please contact [email protected].  

Media Contact:
GoHealth Urgent Care
Jill Greenwood
646-762-8715 / [email protected]

About GoHealth Urgent Care
At GoHealth Urgent Care, we place the needs of our patients first by providing an effortless patient experience, a welcoming culture of care and seamless integration with market-leading health systems and our communities. GoHealth Urgent Care operates urgent care centers in the New York and Portland, OR, metropolitan areas, is currently developing urgent care centers in the San Francisco Bay Area and has plans for additional expansion in multiple markets. GoHealth Urgent Care's current partners include health systems that are at the forefront of care delivery innovation, including Northwell Health (f/k/a/ North Shore-LIJ), New York's largest health system, Legacy Health, the largest nonprofit, locally owned health system in the Portland-Vancouver area, and Dignity Health, the nation's 5th largest health system. GoHealth Urgent Care is a dba of Access Clinical Partners, LLC, a TPG Growth portfolio company. TPG Growth is the middle market and growth equity investment platform of TPG, which has approximately $78 billion of assets under management. To learn more, please visit www.gohealthuc.com.

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SOURCE GoHealth Urgent Care

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