The Health Wagon is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing health services to the medically under-served and poverty-stricken population of southwest Virginia and rural Appalachia through a mobile health unit and two other stationary clinics. Sister Bernie Kenny founded The Health Wagon in 1980. At the programs origins, Kenny began dispensing health care from her Volkswagen Beetle with the partnership of St. Mary's Hospital, which went on to sponsor the program for over 25 years. Today, the mobile health unit visits 11 sites throughout southwest Virginia including Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, and Wise counties and provides a variety of health services that are essentially free of charge.

The Health Wagon's 1st Annual Gala

‪#‎FollowTheWagon‬ to Bristol Motor Speedway for the First Annual Gala Dinner Dance and Auction to benefit the Health Wagon. Please see below images of the invitation for more information on how to attend. The Gala will take place on April 23, 2015 with cocktails starting at 5:30 p.m. and dinner to follow at 7 p.m. Tickets are $75.00 per person and tables (sit 8 individuals) are $600.00. For more information please contact Dr. Kelly McBride at kamcbride@vt.edu.

10 Tips to Protect Your Liver Health

1. Eat organic foods: organic foods must be free from genetically modified organisms, synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, antibiotics, growth hormones and other drugs.

2. Limit fructose, fried foods and processed foods: Trans fats are common in fried foods like French fries and doughnuts and are also found in cookies, crackers and many other processed foods. Fructose is also found in numerous processed foods as well as in soda and fruit juice.

3. Increase fruits & vegetables: Sulfur-rich foods, such as onions, garlic and all the veggies in the cruciferous family (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, etc.) are known to help your liver detoxify environmental toxins.

4. Avoid alcohol: Alcohol can destroy liver cells and lead to liver damage that causes fatty liver health, inflammation, alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis. If you already have liver health disease, drinking even a small amount of alcohol can make it worse.

5. Use natural household products: The more chemicals you are exposed to, the harder your liver has to work to keep you healthy. Be sure your drinking water is free from contaminants and consider using an air purifier in your home, especially if you live in a high-traffic area. You’ll also want to avoid spraying pesticides in or around your home.

6. Detoxify your body regularly: Your liver health helps your body process and eliminate chemicals in your sweat, urine and feces. Detoxing can help to support and enhance this natural process.
7. Be careful with medications: Taking medications in improper doses, for too long, or mixed with other substances, such as alcohol or other drugs, can harm your liver health. Acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) is notorious for its potential danger to your liver health, as overdose of this drug is actually the leading cause of acute liver health failure in the United States.

8. Exercise: Exercise is one straightforward way to lower your risk of fatty liver health disease, not only by helping you to maintain a healthy body weight but also by leading to liver health improvements independent of weight loss.

9. Avoid smoking: Smoking may harm your liver’s ability to effectively process and remove toxins from your body. It can also make alcohol-induced liver health disease worse.

10. Consider liver health supportive supplements: Certain high-quality supplements may help support liver health.

http://www.cncahealth.com/explore/learn/general-health/top-10-ways-to-protect-your-liver#.VPXdHvnF-7k