Help Dad Stay Healthy!

In honor of Father’s Day on June 18, GBMC wants to remind men how vital it is to see their primary care physician for the preventive healthcare they need.

A significant amount of published research has shown that, on average, men have higher mortality rates than women for fatal illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke and AIDS. “Men need to make their health a priority. Being healthy requires maintaining a normal body weight, exercising, and not smoking,” says Kevin Ferentz, MD, lead physician for GBMC at Owings Mills.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, more than 50 percent of men in the U.S. haven't visited their family physician in the past year, and men make half as many doctor visits for disease prevention than women.

“The longer you put off seeing a doctor, the more likely it is that you will have to see a doctor on a regular basis for problems that were preventable,” warns Dr. Ferentz. He recommends that men discuss the following health screenings with their primary care physicians:

• Blood pressure: Every man age 18 or older should have his blood pressure checked annually. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. If your numbers are higher, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, medication or monitoring.
• Cholesterol: Men ages 20 to 35 with a cardiovascular disease risk factor – like smoking or a family history of heart disease - should be screened. After age 35, men should be screened once every 5 years if normal, or more often if levels are elevated.
• Colon cancer: Men should be screened regularly starting at age 50 or younger, especially if there is a family history of colorectal cancer.
• Heart disease: According to the CDC, high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, and smoking are key risk factors for heart disease. About half of Americans (49 percent) have at least one of these three risk factors.
• Prostate cancer: Men should discuss prostate screening with their physician.
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Men between the ages of 55-75 should consider this screening if they have a risk factor like smoking.

Along with health screenings, there are several vaccines that men should discuss with their physicians to protect themselves and their loved ones from serious illnesses like flu, shingles, pneumonia, whooping cough and, for men up to age 26, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Father’s Day is the perfect time to remind all the men in our families to schedule an annual health review or see a doctor about a health problem. Visit www.mygbmcdoctor.com to find a primary care physician who is right for you.

Tune in! Dr. Ferentz will be featured on WBFF-TV (FOX 45) on Friday, June 16 during the 7am news hour to discuss men’s health issues.

Chicken Fried Cauliflower Rice

Every month, GBMC holds a Facebook Live cooking demonstration featuring healthy recipes from The Sleeved Chef, Michael Salamon. Michael graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and is passionate about “teaching cooking techniques and recipes to pre- and post-operative bariatric patients.” He had a type of bariatric surgery known as a sleeve gastrectomy in September 2016 and enjoys sharing his knowledge of cooking with fellow weight loss patients. Co-hosting the demonstration with him is Jana Wolff, RD, LDN, Director of Nutrition for GBMC’s Comprehensive Obesity Management Program, where Michael was treated.

The recipe is appropriate for bariatric patients, but it is also a great high-protein, low-carb meal for anyone! Please tune in to GBMC’s Facebook page on Tuesday, June 27 at 6pm for another live cooking demonstration with Michael and Jana!

Ingredients

4 oz chicken breast, thinly sliced
1 cup of cauliflower rice
1 yellow onion, small diced
1 carrot, small diced
2 celery stalks, small diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 egg
1 tsp sesame oil
1 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

Instructions

Cauliflower Rice

1. Cut one head of cauliflower into florets.
2. Place the florets into a food processor and blend until cauliflower is riced.
3. Stop processor, remove lid and stir to promote consistent size and texture
4. Remove cauliflower rice from food processor and reserve

Other Ingredients

1. Small dice onion, carrots, and celery; place on a plate
2. Mince ginger and garlic; place on a plate
3. Butterfly the chicken breast and thinly slice it into 1/4" strips
4. Place 1 tsp of sesame oil in a cast iron pan on medium heat
5. Add onion, carrots, celery, ginger and garlic to the pan; season with salt and pepper
6. Sauté vegetables until tender, about 2 minutes
7. Place chicken in the pan and season with salt and pepper
8. Sauté chicken for 3-4 minutes until fully cooked
9. Add cauliflower rice to pan, season with salt and pepper
10. Sauté cauliflower rice for 1-2 minutes until tender
11. Add soy sauce and cook for an additional minute
12. Slice green onions on a bias and place into pan
13. Serve immediately in a bowl

Watch the Chicken Fried Cauliflower Rice cookingdemonstration here.

Nutrition Information
Recipe yields 1 serving

Calories: 330
Total Fat: 13g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 235mg
Sodium: 820mg
Protein: 37g
Carbohydrate: 18g

Recipe courtesy of Michael Salamon, The Sleeved Chef.