Healthy UNH Blogger: Ann Steeves
Are you an outdoor adventure enthusiast? Interested in seeing what the great outdoors can offer you for physical activity? Well the University of New Hampshire offers extremely discounted rental prices for students! Try out kayaking for only $10, or snowshoeing for $8, or all the equipment for a weekend hiking trip! The Hamel Recreation Center tons of great rental equipment, so that you can try out whatever you are interested in without committing to the high prices of buying your own gear!... Read More
Health cost is an unavoidable topic for the future of the Health Care industry. Mental health care, especially, is often neglected because of the perceived cost of treatment. 47% of individuals with untreated mental illnesses cited cost as a barrier to obtaining treatment, according to a 2007 research study published in the academic journal Psychiatric Services. Many people try to calm themselves by listening to a bird-song album or setting up a desk fountain to imitate the sounds of a running... Read More
There’s no denying the rising costs of health care in our nation. Health spending has been rising steadily for several years. Americans spend nearly 20% of their income on healthcare costs, while on average spending 10% of their income on food. This disparity affects the health of our nation and must be acknowledged and addressed. Considering the age-old adage, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” may be the first step to attempt to reduce healthcare spending—and the key place to... Read More
A recent study out of the University of Granada has linked participating in physical activity with longer attention spans. Better cognitive abilities such as time perception were also higher in physically active participants. It has been generally known that physical activity lends itself to better overall health outcomes, but this study clearly illustrates a strong relationship between physical activity and longer attention spans. Antonio Luque Casado, a researcher from the University of... Read More
I’ve always loved to sing. I grew up in a musical family, where we were constantly performing for and with each other. There’s nothing I enjoy more than harmonizing with my siblings. There’s something special about singing in harmony with others—your personal responsibility to hold your own part, while acknowledging others and blending with their voices. It’s an awesome experience to produce a balanced oneness among different voices. It requires practice, patience, and motivation, but the end... Read More
I’ve always loved stretching and meditating. I can attribute this practice to my mom, who teaches Hatha yoga. Growing up, stretching was a part of my daily life. If I were stressed, I would do some stretches and deep breathing to try to calm down. This practice has followed me to college and has helped me calm down many times when overwhelmed with academic and personal commitments. I usually have practiced on my own, but have recently started taking yoga classes downtown at Three Bridges Yoga... Read More
You’ve probably seen the merch around campus: stickers, t-shirts, buttons and more with the “eat more kale” slogan stamped on the center. You may have even heard of the lawsuit last year when Chick-fil-A insisted the kale slogan was too similar to their “Eat Mor Chikin” campaign (lest people start eating kale instead of chicken!). The hearty green has received a lot of attention over the past few years. It’s one of my favorite foods, and I encourage everyone to make it part of their diet... Read More
The University of New Hampshire’s Department of Health Management and Policy prepares undergraduates to become leading health professionals in the ever-expanding Health Care Industry. Through this department, students get exposed to many aspects of health care, including data analysis, finance management, epidemiology, ethics, and policy. A reoccurring theme throughout the Department’s courses is health promotion. The Department’s Student Organization for Health Leadership (SOHL... Read More
This week is National Public Health Week, an annual celebration of public health sponsored by the American Public Health Association (APHA). Today’s theme is “Providing a Safe Environment for Children at School”. Children spend 180 days in school every year. The lessons and habits children gain during this time influence the rest of their lives. Our nation’s children develop eating habits through the National School Lunch program, which feeds more than 31 million children each day. Many... Read More
More than one in four adults over 18 years of age in the U.S. suffers from a diagnosable mental health disorder in a given year (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml). Individuals struggling with mental illnesses often feel stigmatized or too embarrassed to share their personal struggles with friends or family members. Winter months bring cold weather and shorter days, which often increases feelings of depression or other mental... Read More

Home
town: Merrimack, NH
Major:
dual major in Health Management and Policy with concentration in Pubic Health, EcoGastronomy
Graduation
year: 2014
What
I do to make a Healthy UNH: I stay healthy by utilizing the Swasey pool and
the beautiful trails in College Woods. I also strive to spread awareness of the
food system and its impact on health with the student organization Get Real!,
part of the national Real Food Challenge campaign.
Favorite
food: Avocados!
Favorite
movie: I like a lot of movies...watched the Hunger Games recently, which was
great!
Favorite
Book: Guns, Germs, and Steel
What
place in the world do you want most to visit?: the Amazon rainforest
Favorite
Dining Hall: Philbrook! (bias because I work there!!)
What
do you love about UNH? I love all the opportunities that are given to students,
the beautiful campus, and the awesome professors in my department!
As
a healthy UNH intern, most excited about: Spreading awareness of pressing
health issues!