Not only is May Mental Health Month, but it’s also Healthy Vision Month. When was the last time you had your eyes examined for common vision problems?

If you wear corrective lenses, you should have your vision checked every one to two years as recommended by your eye doctor. If you don’t currently wear corrective lenses, but experience blurry vision, get regular headaches when reading or spending time at the computer, or have health factors such as diabetes that can contribute to vision problems, you should see an eye care professional for a complete vision screening. Too often, common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatisms go uncorrected.

These problems, which generally cause blurry images and make it difficult to read or identify people and objects from a distance, are easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Unfortunately, surveys and studies show that as many as half of people with health insurance that covers eye exams do not have their eyes checked regularly.

For older people and people with diabetes, regular eye care is even more important because age- and diabetes-related eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy often go undetected or untreated. If you have diabetes or are 60 or older, make sure you see an eye care professional and receive a dilated eye exam every year. Early detection and treatment of these eye problems can save your eyesight and keep your eyes health for life.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

Welcome back to our Ask the Dietitian series. This month we have another Twitter-provided question from @sammysanchez:

What are the three foods I should avoid in order to lose weight?

At Feed the Soul, we try to focus more on what you should be eating than what you shouldn’t be eating. That being said, it’s important for both overall health and weight loss that you monitor your fat, sodium and sugar intake. If we had to choose three foods to eliminate from a diet, we’d get rid of:

1. Foods fried in oil containing trans fats;
2. Processed foods containing more than 300 mg sodium; and
3. Store-bought sweets like cookies, cakes, pies and donuts.

Try limiting your intake of these foods and you should find you’re not only losing weight, but improving your heart-health as well.

As usual, if you have a question you’d like to ask, please feel free to leave a comment with your question on any post and we’ll add it to the queue.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."

May is Mental Health Month, and there’s no better time than now to pay close attention to your mental health. With the economy in a major slump, an unemployment rate that just keeps rising, and homes going into foreclosure in almost every neighborhood, it’s no surprise that more and more people are reporting stress, anxiety and depression symptoms these days.

While everyone gets sad or “blue” sometimes, when these emotions become so intense that they rule your days and nights, last weeks or months at a time, negatively affect your ability to do day-to-day tasks, or cause serious disruptions in your routine, you may be suffering from depression or another serious mental health problem. It’s important to talk to a doctor, friend or family member if you think you or someone you know might be experiencing symptoms of depression.

As described by the May0 Clinic, depression symptoms may include:

• Loss of interest in normal daily activities
• Feeling sad or down
• Feeling hopeless
• Crying spells for no apparent reason
• Problems sleeping
• Trouble focusing or concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Unintentional weight gain or loss
• Irritability
• Restlessness
• Being easily annoyed
• Feeling fatigued or weak
• Feeling worthless
• Loss of interest in sex
• Thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

While the symptoms may vary depending on the person, if you or someone you know is experiencing any of these symptoms it’s important to seek help. Even less severe symptoms of depression should be taken seriously and can often be treated. See your doctor, talk to a loved one, or call a hotline like 1-800-273-TALK (8255). You may not be able to convince a loved one that he or she needs help, but listening and encouraging your friend or family member to seek help may be just the support he or she needs to take that step.

"Eat well. Live well. Be well."