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UGA Extension Forsyth County

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FACS

  • Step into Health with “A Taste of Wellness”

    Fruits and vegetables arranged in heart shape

    In a world full of flashy fitness trends, expensive gym memberships, and trendy health gadgets, it is easy to forget that the best ways to care for our physical health don’t require fancy equipment or extreme measures. Generations before us knew a simple truth that modern life often overlooks: regular daily movement—like a brisk stroll…

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  • Food Safety Recommendations for Women during Pregnancy

    A smiling pregnant woman of Indian descent is seated at a wooden countertop in a bright kitchen, enjoying a healthy meal. She is looking down at a forkful of food, her left hand gently resting on her baby bump. In front of her sits a colorful plate featuring grilled salmon, fresh salad greens, tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, avocado, and a piece of whole-grain bread. Nearby, there is a small bowl filled with fresh raspberries and blueberries, a bottle of olive oil, and a glass of water with a lemon slice. The background shows a window with potted herbs on the sill, kitchen shelves with jars, and a clean, warm interior.

    Food Safety Recommendations for Women During Pregnancy Why Food Safety is So Important During Pregnancy Food safety is important throughout all stages of life, but it is particularly important during pregnancy when the mother-to-be and her baby have a weakened immune system. In addition to the “basics” (clean, separate, cook, chill; see more information in…

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  • Beyond the Plate: How to spot and stop Portion Distortion

    Two plates side by side with chicken, stuffing and green beans to illustrate how serving sizes have increased today compared to 20 years ago

    It is a subtle sneak that happens right under our noses—and on our plates. Over the last few decades, American restaurant portions and packaged foods have quietly ballooned. What we think of as a “normal” single serving today is often large enough to feed two or three people. Nutritionists call this phenomenon portion distortion, and…

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  • Elevate Your Relationship: Putting Couples’ Connection First

    Elevate Your Relationship: Putting Couples’ Connection First In the hustle of Forsyth County life—navigating the GA-400 commute, managing busy school schedules, and keeping up with the rapid growth of our community—it is easy for the most important part of our lives to drift to the back burner: our relationships. As a member of the ELEVATE…

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  • Forsyth County’s Hidden Threat: Understanding and Testing for Radon

    All homes need to be tested for radon. Continue reading to learn how and why. Radon is the second main cause of lung cancer. About 800 Georgians die each year from lung cancer caused by radon. This gas has no smell, color, or taste. It silently slips into homes through cracks in the foundation. A…

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  • No Bones About It! Medications and the Treatment of Bone Diseases (part 6 of 6)

    Guest author Gwen Hawn, FACS Agent, UGA Extension Hall County Building and maintaining strong bones through a healthy lifestyle which includes adequate calcium and vitamin D and consistent physical activity with weight-bearing exercises is the first and best practice to avoiding bone diseases.  According to the Bone Health and Osteoporosis Foundation, “20% of people die…

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  • UGA Program to Help Georgians Manage Diabetes

    A close-up shot of a person's hands using a plastic lancing device to prick their index finger for a blood glucose test. A white digital glucometer monitor and a loose test strip sit on the wooden table surface in the blurred background.

    Guest Author: Cal Powell A program led by a researcher in the University of Georgia’s College of Family and Consumer Sciences is helping Georgia residents manage their diabetes. The Health Extension for Diabetes program ®, led by FACS faculty member Michelle Parisi, leverages the vast UGA Extension network and healthcare partners to deliver programming aimed at reducing complications from diabetes. The…

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  • Turmeric: Unfamiliar Foreign Spice to Mainstream Flavor

    A top-down view of a black bowl filled with creamy yellow dal tadka, topped with a vibrant red chili oil seasoning, whole roasted red chilis, and fresh green cilantro leaves. In the background, ingredients like a head of garlic, dried red chilies, and fresh cilantro sprigs sit on a textured gray countertop next to a black pot lid.

    Growing up in an Indian household in Athens, Georgia, I remember when spices were hard to come by. Once a month, my parents drove an hour to Atlanta just to buy spices and herbs for home-cooked comfort food. There was only one store that all the Indians in the Atlanta area went to in Decatur…

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  • No Bones About It! How to Select Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements (Part 5 of 6)

    An extreme close-up of a variety of pills

    Guest author Gwen Hawn, FACS Agent, UGA Extension Hall County Maintaining bone health by having adequate daily dietary calcium and vitamin D is essential for everyone at all ages.  The best way to get the calcium and vitamin D that we need is through a healthy diet, however, sometimes that is not possible, and supplements…

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  • No Bones About It! Strategies to Increase Your Calcium Intake (Part 4 of 6)

    Calcium spelled out on wooden blocks surrounded by calcium and vitamin D rich foods: milk, green leafy vegetables, legumes, fish, and nuts

    When we think of calcium, dairy products are usually what come to mind.  Dairy products such as skim or low-fat milk, low-fat yogurt, hard cheeses and cottage cheese are all excellent sources of calcium and usually vitamin D if they are fortified.  If someone doesn’t prefer dairy products, one strategy is to use them in…

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