WHERE TO FIND FRESH PRODUCE FOR SALE, HEALTH CARE, YEAR-ROUND FITNESS AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND MORE FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES New York City Green Cart Program These mobile food carts offer fresh whole fruits and vegetables in certain designated NYC areas where there is less access to fresh produce, such as Harlem. For a map of designated Green Cart areas or more information about the program, visit nyc.gov/greencarts Health Bucks Program Provides East and Central Harlem residents with fresh and affordable produce while supporting regional farmers. NYC Health Department District Public Health Offices distribute Health Bucks ($2 value) that can be used toward purchases at these Harlem locations: Harvest Home Union Settlement Farmers Market E. 104th St. & 3rd Ave. (Thursdays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Harlem Harvest State Office Building W. 125th St. and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. (Tuesdays, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Harlem Hospital Greenmarket W. 135th and Lenox Ave. (Thursdays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.) Greenmarkets Sponsored by the Council on the Environment of New York City, a privately funded not-for-profit organization, Greenmarket organizes and manages outdoor farmers’ markets throughout all five boroughs. All participants grow, raise or produce all their market items in the local region. Here are some of the locations: 82nd Street / St. Stephens E. 82 St. between 1st and York avenues (Saturdays, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., July 12 – November) 92nd Street 1st Ave. between 92nd and 93rd streets (Sundays, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., July 13 – November) 97th Street W. 97th St. and Columbus Ave. (Fridays, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., year round) Mt. Sinai Hospital E. 99th St. between Madison and Park avenues (Weds., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., July – November) Stranger’s Gate W. 106 St. and Central Park West (Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., July 12 – November) Columbia University Broadway between 114th and 115th streets (Thurs. & Sundays, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., year round) 175th Street W. 175 St. and Broadway (Thursdays, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m., June 19th – November) Inwood Isham St. between Seaman and Cooper (Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m., year round) City Harvest 575 8th Ave., 4th floor, New York, NY 10018; 917-351-8700; cityharvest.org As the only food rescue organization serving NYC, City Harvest picks up excess food from restaurants, grocers and greenmarkets and delivers it to soup kitchens, food pantries, day-care centers and homeless shelters in all five boroughs. Restaurants Participating in the Ralph Lauren Center Apple Cart Program These popular local eateries provide diners with fresh apples in support of the Ralph Lauren Center’s initiative to encourage the community to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables. Mobay New York 17 W. 125th St. Harlem, NY 10027 212-876-9300 Melba’s Restaurant 300 W. 114th St. New York, NY 10026 212-864-7777 Ricardo Steak House 2145 2nd Ave. between 110th and 111th streets 212-289-5895 Sylvia’s Restaurant 328 Lenox Ave. New York, NY 10027 212-996-0660 The Go Green East Harlem Cookbook This bilingual cookbook features healthy recipes contributed by East Harlem restaurants and community residents. It is available for purchase in bookstores and online at Barnes & Noble and Amazon for about $18. FITNESS AND RECREATION Ice Hockey In Harlem Offers hockey camps and clinics and homework assistance to kids ages 4 to 17. 141 E. 11th St. #420 New York, NY 10029 212-722-0044 www.icehockeyinharlem.org Shape Up New York A free, year-round fitness program sponsored by the New York City Departments of Health and Mental Hygiene and Parks and Recreation. Classes include step aerobics, fitness walking, light weights, stretching and toning exercises. Instructors focus on flexibility, strength training and cardiovascular fitness, as well as strategies for a healthy lifestyle. Thomas Jefferson Recreation Center 2180 1st Ave. (at E. 112th St.) 212-860-1383 Tues & Thurs: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Sat: 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Jackie Robinson Recreation Center 89 Bradhurst Ave. (between 146th and 147th streets) 212-234-9607 Tues & Thurs: 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; Sat: 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pelham Fritz Recreation Center 122nd St. and 18 Mount Morris Park West 212-860-1380 Mon: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.; Wed: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.; Sat: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PS 154 250 W. 127th St. between 7th and 8th avenues 212-864-2400 Tues, Wed and Thurs: 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Hansborough Recreation Center 35 W. 134th St. 212-234-9603 Thurs: 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.; Sat: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Step Out New York City Sponsored by the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, the NYC Commission on Women’s Issues, the YMCA, and the Police Athletic League, Step Out encourages residents to get up and get out for family-and community-oriented walks at over 80 locations throughout NYC. Step Up runs Tuesdays and Thursdays 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. throughout the spring and summer. Visit www.nyc.gov/html/cwi/stepout/html/home/home.shtml for more information, or get moving to one of these locations: Thomas Jefferson Park E. 112th St. and 1st Ave. 212-408-0243 Pelham Fritz Park 122nd St. and Mt. Morris Park West 212-408-0243 J Hood Wright Park W. 173rd St. and Ft. Washington Ave. 212-408-0243 Highbridge Park W. 176th St. and Amsterdam Ave. 212-408-0243 Emerson Playground Park Seaman Ave. and 207th St. 212-408-0243 Indian Rd. Playground Park W. 214th St. and Seaman Ave. 212-408-0243 New Harlem Center Police Athletic League 441 Manhattan Ave. at 119th St. New York, NY 10026 212-665-8699 Amory Center Police Athletic League 216 Ft. Washington Ave. at 169th St. New York, NY 10032 212-927-0306 YMCA of Greater New York Association Offices 5 W. 63rd St., 6th Floor New York, NY 10023 212-630-9600 YMCA Harlem Center 180 W. 135th St. New York, NY 10030 212-283-8542 HEALTH AND WELLNESS Central Harlem Health Revival Free HIV Testing Free HIV testing every month at the Canaan Baptist Church of Christ (132 W. 116th St.) Get your free screening from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following dates: Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Wednesday, December 3, 2008 Wednesday, January 7, 2009 East and Central Harlem District Public Health Office East Harlem Health Center 158 E. 115th St. New York, NY 10029 212-360-5980 HarlemDPHO@health.nyc.gov For a guide to fitness and nutrition programs in Harlem, visit www.nyc.gov New York Coalition for Healthy School Lunches www.healthylunches.org Helen B. Atkinson Health Center Serving Harlem since 1966, HBA is a federally qualified community health center dedicated to providing equal access to primary health services in the community. HBA services include adult medicine, adolescent medicine, dental care, HIV services, pediatric care, reproductive health care, prenatal and postpartum care, immunizations, school physicals, dental care, social services and a pregnancy prevention program. Main Clinic 81 W. 115th St. New York, NY 10026 212-426-0088 Case Management Office 1916 Park Ave. New York, NY 10037 917-575-9026 Director: Selinka McIntyre William F. Ryan Community Health Center Dedicated to providing high-quality, affordable, comprehensive health-care services to medically underserved populations. Main Facility (physical health) 110 W. 97th St. New York, NY 10025 212-749-1820 Ryan Center Annex (mental health) 160 W. 100th St. New York, NY 10025 212-769-7200 Download A Printer Friendly Version Of The Resources Section A GLOSSARY OF HEALTH TERMS The Common Lingo Of Doctors Explained! Body mass index (BMI): This describes your body weight relative to your height, and it’s what doctors use as a key index of total body fat content. A BMI below 18.5 is defined as underweight; 18.5 to 24.9 is defined as normal weight; 25 to 29.9 is defined as overweight; and 30 and above is defined as obese. Here’s how to figure out yours: your weight (in pounds) divided by your height (in inches)2 *Take that number and multiply it by 703, and that’s your BMI! Cataracts: These are cloudy areas that form in your eyes that distort and block the passage of light through the lens. They are the world’s leading cause of blindness and affect more than half of all Americans older than 65 to some degree. Cholesterol: Fatlike substance made by your liver and absorbed from animal food products. It is in your blood and used to form cell membranes and process hormones. There are two types of cholesterol: Low-density (LDL): “bad” cholesterol; too much in your blood can cause build-up in your arteries, increasing your risk for heart disease. High-density (HDL): “good” cholesterol; high levels of HDL helps flush LDL out of the arteries and into the liver. Regular aerobic exercise can help you increase your blood levels of HDL cholesterol. Colonoscopy: An outpatient procedure (takes about 30 to 60 minutes) that enables your doctor to carefully examine the lining of the colon for inflamed tissue and abnormal growths. It is most often used to look for early signs of colon and rectal cancers. Digital Rectal Exam (DRE): An important screening test for the early detection of rectal tumors and prostate cancer. During the test, which takes just a few seconds, a doctor puts a lubricated, gloved finger into a man’s rectum to check the prostate for anything abnormal. It’s recommended for all men beginning at age 50; African-American men and those with a family history of prostate cancer should be screened at age 40. Glaucoma: Damage to the optic nerve caused by increasing fluid pressure around the eye, resulting in vision loss. Gradual loss of vision is usually the only symptom. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the United States, and the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans. Hypertension (high blood pressure): When the heart has to pump harder to move blood through the body (systolic pressure) and the blood pushes against artery walls harder than normal (diastolic pressure). Left untreated, high blood pressure can increase your risk for heart attack, stroke and kidney failure. Stage 1 hypertension: 140 Ð 159 (systolic)/ 90 Ð 99 diastolic 2 hypertension: anything over 160/100 Insulin: A hormone released by the pancreas that helps glucose move out of the blood and into the cells in the body, where the glucose can be used as energy and nourishment. Melanoma: Deadliest form of skin cancer, usually visual as a single dark skin spot on any skin surface. Short bursts of intense sun are more dangerous, especially if you get sunburned. If an immediate family member has melanoma, you are eight times more likely to develop it. Monounsaturated fat: In moderation, this fat can help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. It is found primarily in plant foods, including avocados, peanut butter, nuts and seeds, and vegetable oils like olive oil, canola oil and sesame seed oil. Keep calories from fat around 25 to 30 percent of your total daily calories, primarily from monounsaturated sources. Omega-3 fatty acid: An essential fatty acid that your body needs but cant produce itself. Found in fish oils and flaxseeds, this fatty acid lowers the “bad” LDL cholesterol in the blood and can protect against common eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration. Saturated fat: Fat that is solid at room temperature and found mostly in animal food products like butter, lard, meat fat, palm oil and coconut oil. These fats have been found to raise the level of cholesterol in the blood, and should be limited to 10 percent of your daily caloric intake. Trans fat: Also known as hydrogenated oil, this fat is chemically processed to increase the shelf life and flavor stability of the oil and foods that contain it. It has the most detrimental impact on your body’s ability to regulate cholesterol, and you’ll find it in vegetable shortening, margarine, crackers, snack cakes, cookies and fried foods. Triglyceride: Type of fat found in your blood that provides your body energy. Excess calories are converted into triglycerides and stored as fat. This provides your body with energy between meals. If you regularly eat more calories than you burn, you may have high triglycerides, which can put you at risk for heart disease. Type-2 diabetes: Previously called adult-onset diabetes; the body becomes resistant to insulin, causing your blood sugar levels to rise. Type 2 has a genetic component, is associated with obesity and makes up 90 to 95 percent of total diabetes cases. Download A Printer Friendly Version Of The Glossary Diseases often run in the family. Learning the health history of your kin can forewarn you of health problems while there’s still time to act. If a blood relative has had heart disease, cancer, diabetes or other life-threatening diseases, especially before the age of 50, your risk for developing them increases significantly. Learning your family’s health history is an important step in determining your genetic predisposition to certain conditions. Click here to download a blank family tree chart and fill it out at your next family reunion, then share it with your doctor to shape a preventative plan. You can find a similar Web-based tool at https://familyhistory.hhs.gov/. Ask family members about cancer, heart disease, diabetes, mental illnesses, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stroke, kidney disease, alcohol or other substance abuse, miscarriages and vision loss. Click Here To Download A Blank Family Tree Chart