Will An Apple A Day Keep The Doctor Away?

Posted inAntioxidant, CholesterolNo Comments

My husband was recently in the hospital and now that he is home, nurses come frequently to check on him. I have learned so much just from listening to them! You know the saying we have heard for years?

Did you know there have been several studies about the effectiveness of eating apples to control cholesterol levels? The University of Oxford reports in 2013 that “the 150 year old proverb, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, stands the test of time”. Their researchers concluded that eating an apple a day would prevent about 8500 deaths from heart attacks and strokes in adults over 50 (in the UK) in a year.

Need Help In Reaching Your Fitness Goals?

Posted inDiet, Fitness3 Comments

I know I am not the ONLY ONE!! I read and study nutrition, dieting and exercise. I mentally prepare myself to start a diet…to start exercising…to drink enough water…to just get myself back on track. I have the day planned for starting my new LIFE….and a week later, I am no better off than I was before.

My intentions are good—I know what to do!! Why don’t I just do it? I beat myself up because I am not stronger and I don’t stick with a plan.  I don’t want to have a perfect body—just one that is healthy and that I am proud of.

The times I have done really well with diet and exercise were when I had a friend partnering with me. Is it accountability? Maybe, but I think it is more than that. The times when I was ready to ditch my diet or skip my gym day, my friend would be having a good day and would encourage me! And I would do the same for her on her weak moments.

So try to find a buddy with similar goals and watch your successes add up!!

Are You Taking Care Of Your Heart?

Posted inHealthNo Comments

Want to lower your cholesterol and enhance your heart health? My cholesterol always ran slightly higher than normal, but my doctor was not concerned…until my heart attack.

This is based on my personal experience with Cholesterol Prescription Drugs!! Do they work? Absolutely….but at what cost? There are so many side effects from the prescription cholesterol drugs–statins!!

Mayo Clinic reports about statins  that  “they have been linked to muscle pain, digestive problems and mental fuzziness in some people and may rarely cause liver damage.” Mayo Clinic also says if you are currently on a statin (Cholesterol Drug), do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor.

Are You Getting Enough Water?

Posted inHealth, Weight Loss, WellnessNo Comments

Water—how much do we need? Our body uses water in all its cells, organs and tissues. I am told that humans can live without food for several days or even weeks, but we can only live a few days without water.

I am not a big water drinker so I checked several sources trying to determine how much water I need and how to get it into my diet. I read that drinking enough fluids is crucial to staying healthy…to maintaining all the functions of our bodies. Also older adults (who might not sense thirst as much as younger people) need to be especially careful to stay hydrated in the summer!

I read another place that we need 30-50 ounces of fluids a day—our body size… how active we are—the heat factor….many things can contribute to determining how much we really need. But I was relieved to see that not all of this had to come from plain water.

Are There Good Fats?

Posted inHealthNo Comments

For years we have been told that FAT is our enemy and to avoid it!! But did you know that there are healthy fats that are essential to our health? These are Omega-3 fatty acids. EPA and DHA -and are primarily found in certain fish. Our bodies need these essential fatty acids to function but they also provide some great health benefits.

So what are the health benefits?

*Supports cardiovascular health

*Lowers LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels

*Increases HDL (good cholesterol)

*Supports normal blood pressure levels

*Supports Healthy Brain Function

*Boosts immune system

You can see from these positive benefits that most of us can benefit from Omega 3—and especially those of us with heart problems. I read in Web MD that we should have 2-3 servings weekly of anchovies, bluefish, herring, mackerel, salmon (the wild rather than farmed is richer in Omega 3s), sardines, sturgeon, lake trout or tuna.

Penny Wise Pound Foolish

Posted inHealth, UncategorizedNo Comments

We have all heard the old British saying—“penny wise pound foolish”. This means we might focus on saving pennies that in the long run cost us larger amounts of money. We all want to save money, but don’t forget the larger picture.

Okay, I admit it!! I have been penny wise and pound foolish. My mother was very economical. She had to be!! My dad did not have a high paying job and for years she couldn’t work because my little brother was sick and his medicines were very expensive. My mother knew more ways to cook a pound of hamburger that were delicious than you could ever imagine.

I guess I learned from my mom and I shop for good sales and most of the time, I get great deals and save a lot of money, but sometimes my desire to be thrifty outweighs my better judgement. For instance, I might not purchase a favorite fruit or vegetable because it is expensive….but will turn around and buy candy or cookies or cake!! Those items are not good for me and if you figure the price per ounce, the cost can be quite expensive. I would have been better off with my favorite—watermelon—even though it was pretty pricey!

You Could Be At Risk For Heat Exhaustion

Posted inHealth, SafetyNo Comments

With many of us experiencing extremely high temperatures–and in Florida we have high humidity—we want to be sure you stay safe. It is the time of year for outdoor activities, but it is essential that we all take precautions!!

Have you read our blog article ‘Are You Ready For Summer?’

I recently received an informative magazine from our local hospital and wanted to pass along some info on Heat Exhaustion. It could never happen to you or me—right? We are all vulnerable.

Heath exhaustion occurs first but if left untreated or ignored, it can progress to heat stroke, which is a serious and potentially dangerous heat injury. So let’s all be aware of these symptoms of heat exhaustion: