By Kaylee Hough | HealthWorks Peer Educator 

Feeling stressed by exams, projects, and other upcoming assignments? Penn State’s Health Promotion and Wellness has just the resource for you! Visit the Wellness Suite located in 20 Intramural Building, the perfect place to take a break from your busy day. Relieve your stress by doing breathing exercises, mindful coloring, using the biofeedback program or simply enjoying the Zen sand garden. Visit the Relaxation Room anytime Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm. This is a free resource, and no appointment is necessary! 

By Emma Caldart | HealthWorks Peer Educator 

 Between going to classes, doing homework, and taking exams, it can be difficult to cook easy and healthy meals. Luckily, HealthWorks has you covered! HealthWorks peer educators created healthy cooking videos that are perfect for your busy college life. The recipes are not only healthy, but they are easy and quick to make. Go to our website for easy step-by-step instructions for a wide range of healthy recipes! 

By Cheney Lo | HealthWorks Peer Educator 

Optimal nutrition impacts your immune system. Both macro and micronutrients are an important part of nutrition. Macronutrients include things like carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, whereas micronutrients include vitamins and minerals.  Various micronutrients can affect your gut and impact your immune response. To learn how nutrition can help to fight against COVID-19, click here.

By Radha Patel| Health Promotion and Wellness Intern  

Unplugging from technology can significantly improve your well-being. According to the Greater Good Science Center Magazine, “excessive media usage is not good for us physically, mentally, and emotionally.” Luckily, if you take a break from your screen, there are many benefits that you can expect. 

Some benefits from limiting screen time include: 

1. Increased mindfulness and the capability to focus on other aspects of life 
2. Improved and increased sleep 
3. Deepened interpersonal connections 
4. Less distractions and increased productivity and learning 
5. Breaking the pattern of repeatedly checking your phone 

For more information on the importance of unplugging from technology, click here. 

 Source:  Gomes, M. (2018, April 25). Five Reasons to Take a Break from Screens. Retrieved from Greater Good website: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/five_reasons_to_take_a_break_from_screens 

Eating Disorders are a complex medical concern for some college students. Disordered eating develops over time and requires appropriate treatment to address symptoms and underlying issues. Penn State has a robust team of doctors, psychologists, and registered dietitians to work with and support students. This team, referred to as HEALS, works to provide Healthy Eating and Living Support(HEALS) to all Penn State students.  

If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating, there are resources to help. Resources include the Nutrition Clinic, CAPS, UHS Medical Appointments, HEALS, and more. For more information, click here! 

By Alyson Frey | HealthWorks Peer Educator 

 Connection with friends is a vital part of positive mental health and emotional well-being. There are ways to strengthen connection with people and in turn improve well-being. Here are a few tips.  

1. Establish respect and trust. 
2. Maintain eye contact during conversations.
3. Share your feelings.  

 Respect is the foundation to any relationship. When you feel respected, you feel a sense of trust and connect with that person. When you trust someone and feel heard, you are likely to share your feelings. Work toward trust and open communication to help your friendships grow and prosper, as well as improve your mental health and happiness. To learn more, sign up for a one-on-one peer education healthy relationship session! 

 Source:  Seppala, D. E. (2017, June 28). Connectedness & Health: The science of social connection. The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education. Retrieved October 15, 2021, from http://ccare.stanford.edu/uncategorized/connectedness-health-the-science-of-social-connection-infographic/. 

Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a warning about a national increase in delta-8 THC products.  Delta-8 THC is the psychoactive substance found in the cannabis plant.  Concentrated amounts of Delta-8 THC are manufactured from hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) and used in food products such as gummies and brownies.  The FDA is reporting a recent increase in concerning emergency department visits by individuals who have consumed delta-8 THC.  We want to share information about the risks associated with these products.

Here are important facts that you should know about delta-8 THC:

1. Delta-8 THC products are not approved or regulated by the FDA
   • The FDA does not regulate these products and the safety of their use has not been evaluated.  Any food product that is not regulated or approved by the FDA should be viewed with caution.
2. Delta-8 THC has psychoactive and intoxicating effects
   • Delta-8 THC can produce psychoactive and intoxicating effects just like delta-9 THC, the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana.
   • The adverse health effects include vomiting, hallucinations, trouble standing, and loss of conscious.
3. The production of Delta-8 often includes harmful chemicals
   • The manufacturing process of products containing delta-8 often includes other chemicals to achieve higher cannabinoid levels. The use of these chemicals and the manufacturing by-products can be harmful to one’s health.  
   • Manufacturing of delta-8 THC is likely to occur in uncontrolled and uninspected settings.

Like to know more about delta-8 THC and its associated risk? Check out the FDA’s most recent statement on delta-8 THC.

According to a cross-sectional study among college students, those who are physically active enjoy better health and are happier than their peers who are less active. There are a variety of ways for you to be active while at Penn State. If you are interested in learning strategies to incorporate more activity into your daily routine, sign up for a free Physical Activity wellness session with a peer health educator.  

Work cited: Murphy, M. H., Carlin, A., Woods, C., Nevill, A., MacDonncha, C., Ferguson, K., & Murphy, N. (2018, October 1). Active students are healthier and happier than their inactive peers: The results of a large representative cross-sectional study of university students in Ireland. Human Kinetics. Retrieved September 18, 2021, from https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/jpah/15/10/article-p737.xml. 

By Lindsay Moran | HealthWorks Peer Educator 

Studies have shown that there may be an association between healthy eating patterns and academic success among college students. One study found that students who incorporate breakfast into their daily routine had a significantly higher GPA. This study also found that those who consumed more than 2 servings of fruits daily had significantly higher GPA (Burrows, et al., 2017). This change could be as simple as packing a piece of fruit as a snack between classes. Click here to learn about how to incorporate more fruits and veggies into your diet. You could also sign up for a nutrition session with a HealthWorks peer educator to learn more about the benefits of healthy eating!    

 Work cited:  

Burrows, T. L., Whatnall, M. C., Patterson, A. J., & Hutchesson, M. J. (2017, September 25). Associations between dietary intake and academic achievement in college students: A systematic review. MDPI. Retrieved March18, 2021, from https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare5040060.