As some of you may know, today is World AIDS Day. It’s an international day held on December 1st every year and it’s aim is to raise awareness about HIV & AIDS around the world. The first ever world AIDS day was on December 1st 1988, so it has been going on for 21 years!

Because of the importance of the issue, YBS wanted to do our bit to spread the knowledge about the virus by sharing some stats:

DID YOU KNOW THAT IN THE UNITED STATES…

* Every 9 ¬Ω minutes, someone is infected with HIV.
* An estimated 56,300 will become infected with HIV this year.
* More than 580,000 have died of AIDS since the epidemic began in 1981. 1.1 million are currently living with HIV, including 21% who are unaware of their status.
* Young people, ages 13-29 account for 34% of all new infections, the largest share of any age group. Most young people are infected sexually.
* African Americans, although comprising only 12% of the population, account for 46% of all new infections. Latinos, comprising 15% of the population, account for 17% of all new infections.
* In general, racial and ethnic minorities account for 67% of those living with HIV, and 70% of AIDS deaths.

As YBS is all about young people using their talents for the greater good (be it entertaining, helping the community or raising awareness) and in the theme of World AIDS Day, we would like to tell you about Stephanie R. Alston.

Stephanie is a twenty-year-old writer that has written and published her first book ‘As I Die Slowly (AIDS)‘. It is a fictional story centered around AIDS and what it can do to a life.

The synopsis reads:

“Taleah Chantel Davis has it all under control. She is attending one of the most prestigious HBCUs in the nation, the ideal boyfriend, great family support, and an awesome God by her side. Nothing can go wrong, or so she thought. After her first night of sexual intercourse Taleah’s life is dramatically turned upside down. During this time Taleah is forced to depend on God like she never has before. Will her weeping really endure for a night? Will her joy come in the morning or will she be forced to sit there, as she dies slowly?”

Did you know that popcorn (plain) is actually a rather healthy snack?! Well, yes it is! The white fluffy kernels, which are whole grains, are a great source of fiber as well as protein. Popcorn also contains B vitamins which is good too… not to mention that it’s low in calories ;) So, if you’ve ever been in search of a snack that tastes good and doesn’t cause you to worry about adding on a few extra pounds, try popping a bag! It takes only minutes of course! Popcorn is inexpensive and it’s worth it. It’s a healthy snack that both kids and adults can enjoy!

Get up and get out! Outside that is! It is very important for us as people to stay active. Exercise and physical activity is what our body needs to stay healthy and fit. Some people rather not exercise because of it being “boring.” However, exercise does not always have to be boring! Physical activity can be achieved in many different fun and exciting ways! Try out some of these ways to make exercising fun.

Have a rope? Or two? Get them out and use them! Jumping rope, a well loved past time, is a great way to exercise and have fun at the same time. It’s an aerobic exercise that can help improve your body in different ways. Try jump roping with friends; you don’t have to do it alone. Make this activity as fun as possible! Your body will surely benefit!
 
 

Swimming is another very fun yet great way to be physically active. Lots of people love the water, especially in nice weather; chances are you do too! Swimming challenges the muscles and puts them to work. Head out to the beach or to a pool with friends and family. Get in the water, exercise, and have fun doing it!
 
 

If you love to dance, then I’m sure you’d be happy to know that it’s a great way to exercise and get your body moving! Dance styles including Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, and Jazz are all good ways to stretch and work out your body. Dancing is a great group activity and you can do it just about anywhere there is music. If Dancing’s your thing, then go ahead and get active!
 
 

The next time you think about exercising or doing some type of physical activity, remember to think of ways to make it as fun as possible. If exercising is made fun, It’s almost certain that you’ll do it more often!
 

When many people think about health, food is most likely to come up. Healthy eating is in fact a major part of living healthy and well. However, some people may not know exactly how proper nutrition works. A basic place to start with would be the food pyramid. The food pyramid, as it is commonly known as, provides a simple structure of what a healthy diet should consist of. To learn more about it, click HERE. Also, check out some suggestions for healthy eating below!

Breakfast

Everyone should always remember to start their day off with a nice breakfast. Skipping that first meal of the day usually isn’t a very good choice. Breakfast gives us our energy to make it through out the day! A healthy breakfast can be achieved in different ways. Here’s just one suggestion… Waffles! Lots of people love waffles so why not? For breakfast try having no more than 2 normal sized waffles. With any meal, it’s nice to add a healthy portion of fruit so you may want to include that as apart of your breakfast as well!

Lunch

For lunch, how about a sandwich and a little side snack? Even this choice for lunch can be made healthier. When choosing bread for your sandwich, try going for wheat or whole grain instead of regular white bread. Also, when finding things to put on your sandwich, go for the lean meats instead. If you want, adding lettuce or tomato would be fine too. Some people like to have chips or another side snack with their sandwiches but before you go and pick up any bag of chips, try this! Instead of getting the regular chips you’re used to, try picking up baked chips instead. There are different ways to make healthy alternatives. Don’t be afraid to try them!

Dinner

For that last meal of the day, you’re going to want something good… Let’s say chicken! Don’t pull out the frying pan just yet though! Instead of frying chicken for dinner, how about trying it grilled, baked or even sauteed. These cooking styles reduce the amount of fat added to your chicken. As a part of your dinner, add a nice side of steamed or boiled veggies. Don’t cook them too long though or else the nutrients in them will be lost. Sit down to eat with family and you’re good to go!

Remember a tasty meal can easily be made healthy with just a few minor changes! Your body will thank you in the long run!