Category: Healthwatch
HealthWatch 2020Q4
In light of the coronavirus, many are taking steps to ensure everything they touch is clean and sanitized. This is even more true when it comes to our kitchen, a place where we are constantly handling foods. It’s hard to know what products or methods are effective and which ones aren’t. 1. Gas Stove It’s important to make sure you are cleaning your gas stove after every meal with either soap and water or detergent and water. A gas stove is an area in your home that can become a breeding ground for infections over time, if not regularly cleaned. 2. Kitchen Counters and Slabs Many keep their fruits, vegetables, and other ingredients on their counters or slabs before being washed. It’s recommended that you keep this area particularly clean with a mixture of salt and lemon water. 3. Fruits and Vegetables When it comes to items we are consuming, we want to be especially sure it has been cleaned properly to lower the risk of contamination. Trying to find a cleaning product for our fruits and vegetables especially one that is natural, and that removed germs, pesticides, and waxes without the use of harsh chemicals can be difficult. Don’t give up, they are out there! 4. Utensils and Storage The utensils that we are using to eat our food can be easily contaminated. It’s essential that these are washed after every use with a soap or detergent-based solution, and make sure they are completely dry before putting them a
HealthWatch: Probiotics
Are you currently taking probiotics to improve your gut health? New research from the American Gastronenterological Association is showing that it might not be as helpful as we are led to believe. Since researchers started to learn more about our gut bacteria, or microbiome, probiotics have become more popular. Yogurt and dietary supplements contain certain bacteria and yeast, which are organisms found in probiotics. Depending on your location, you can find probiotics sold over the counter or by prescription. Since probiotics are not considered drugs in the United States, they aren’t regulated in the same way as other pharmaceutical products. This can lead to an increase in misleading information and has acted as a barrier to scientific research when it comes to how helpful probiotics actually are. For example, research has found there isn’t enough evidence that suggests the use of probiotics to treat Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or IBS. The American Gastronenterological Association told some people to consider stopping probiotics because of the limited evidence we have that it’s helpful for those specific diseases. It’s always important to consult your doctor when you decide to start taking a probiotic if you have a compromised immune system. When taking probiotics, the tiny microbes inside can actually lead to infection. When consulting with your doctor this question might not have simple answers, as th
Healthwatch: Tips for Lowering Your Risk of Dementia
There's no effective treatment for dementia, which affects 50 million people worldwide, but the World Health Organization (WHO) says there's much that can be done to delay or slow the onset and progression of the disease. In May, WHO issued the following recommendations to reduce the risk of dementia globally, and combat cognitive decline: Regular physical exercise Don't use tobacco Drink less alcohol Maintain a healthy blood pressure Eat a healthy diet, particularly Mediterranean foods Avoid dietary supplements such as Vitamins B and E WHO said there are 10 million new cases of dementia every year, and this figure is set to triple by 2050. The disease is a major cause of disability and dependency among older people and "can devastate the lives of affected individuals, their careers and families," the organization said. Although the report stressed that social participation and social support are strongly connected to good health and individual well-being, it said there was insufficient evidence linking social activity with a reduced of risk of dementia. Experts said that the advice issued by WHO was comprehensive and sensible, but some cautioned that the evidence that these steps would reduce dementia risk was not always strong. "Keep on doing the things that we know benefit overall physical and mental health, but understand that the evidence that these steps will reduce dementia risk is not strong," Robert Howard, a professor of old a
HealthWatch: Keeping Your Mind Sharp in Retirement
Seniors who stay active mentally may be able to help keep their mind sharp longer. "When it comes to brain power, much like your muscles, the 'use it or lose it' concept applies," says Dana Anspach, CEO and founder of Sensible Money in Scottsdale, Arizona. "Retirees who engage in life-long learning keep their brain engaged by challenging themselves to learn new skills. It's important to find things you're curious about and dive in. And in retirement, you have the time to do it." Taking classes in retirement can also be a way to meet new people with similar interests and socialize. "You can go lots of places to learn. You can purchase CDs or DVDs. You can learn from great teachers," Frank says. "We have a sense of community. You will meet people in classroom and continue conversing after class. We're all teaching and learning together." Some colleges, including Pennsylvania State University and Colorado State University, allow seniors to audit classes tuition-free. Other universities, such as Boston University and Georgetown University in the District of Columbia, charge a flat fee to retirees who audit classes, such as $50. Many state university systems allow retiree residents above a certain age, usually 60 or 65, to take for-credit classes. Community colleges may also offer low- or no-cost programs for retirees. Psychiatrist and consumer health expert Janet Taylor says people who continue to learn in retirement are among
HealthWatch: Healthy Cooking Habits
3 Easy Tips for Healthier Cooking When it comes to healthy cooking, a lot of focus goes into choosing good ingredients loaded with the nutrients you and your family need. But the truth is, the way you prepare food can be just as important as what you buy. Certain cooking techniques will help maximize your food’s nutrition, while others will minimize the intake of less healthy elements like added sodium and unhealthy fats. Here are three simple ways you can easily adjust your cooking for a healthier lifestyle! 1. Treat Your Vegetables Right Boiling and overcooking certain vegetables robs them of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. By steaming them instead, you will preserve more nutrients in vegetables than boiling, stir-frying, or even blanching. For canned vegetables, you can lower their sodium content by up to 40% by rinsing them in water. However, rinsing can also remove some of the Vitamin C from some canned vegetables. Using no- or low-sodium canned foods is an even easier way to keep your sodium intake in check. 2. Taste Your Food Before You Salt It Just one teaspoon of table salt has about 2,300 milligrams of sodium, which is the maximum amount you should have in a day. For people who are 51 or older, have high blood pressure or diabetes, the recommended maximum intake is 1,500 milligrams a day. To cut down on sodium, remove the salt shaker from your table and take heart—some research has shown that your taste buds w
HealthWATCH: Staying in Shape Post-Retirement
Once we retire, we tend to bask in our newfound free time, but few of us realize that we should be spending part of that time exercising. Some fitness buffs may treat retirement as a chance to double up on their favorite activities, but for the rest of us, the challenge becomes extracting the most benefit in the least amount of time. “Consistency is the key,” said Michele Stanten, a certified fitness instructor in Coopersburg, Penn. “Some people who are gung-ho at first try to do an hour of exercise, find it’s too much, and stop. It’s more effective going out for 10 minutes one day, then 10 minutes the next day. Build up gradually and be consistent.” Stanten consults with SilverSneakers, a free fitness program for seniors that comes with qualifying Medicare plans. It includes access to participating gyms at more than 14,000 locations across the U.S., along with instructor-led yoga, dance and other fitness classes. Regardless of your goal—to gain muscle mass, lose body fat, lower your cholesterol, improve your heart health—turning exercise into a daily habit helps you stay on track. Just check with your doctor first and heed your body’s signals once you get under way. “The most important thing is to do something you enjoy,” said Edward Schneider, professor of gerontology at the USC Davis School of Gerontology in Los Angeles, Calif. “Otherwise, you’ll quit.” Beyond regular workouts,
HealthWatch: What Are Screens Doing to Our Eyes and Our Ability to See?
In today’s society, if you’re not sleeping, chances are you’re looking at some type of screen. Whether it’s a computer monitor, a television, a handheld tablet, a GPS or our smartphones, we spend 10-14 hours a day staring at a screen. Many of us are familiar with the problems this can cause, such as headaches, dry eyes, eye muscle strain, and even blurred vision—but few of us know what can be done to correct it. The easiest thing to do would be to avoid screens as much as possible. However, for those of us who use our cellphones and computers every day for work, it’s impossible to avoid screen-time. So what are our options? One option is to adjust the brightness on your screen. Dr. Joshua Dunaief, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine also recommends shifting your screen’s color scheme away from blue and toward the yellow end of the spectrum. While some research has linked too much blue light exposure at night to insomnia, even daytime exposure could be a problem. Another way to reduce computer vision syndrome (CVS), also referred to as digital eye-strain, is to maintain proper space between your eyes and the screen. Doctors recommend positioning all screens, smartphones included, no closer than 16 inches from your face. Some may find this hard to do—which brings us to the third option. The best solution is to utilize the “20-20-20” rule. Every 2
HealthWatch: Drink Water to Feel Less Bloated
When you feel bloated, drinking water sounds as if it would only make matters worse, but can often help, according to James Lee, MD, gastroenterologist with St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California. Especially if you’re on a high-fiber diet, for instance, your body will need more water to work more efficiently, says Dr. Lee. “Water mixes with water soluble fiber and makes it into a gel-like substance. This affects the motility of the gut and reduces the symptom of bloating.” Drinking more water can relieve bloating caused by dehydration. When you’re dehydrated, your body clings to the water your body does have, causing you to puff up. So next time you’re feeling a little bloated, reach for a drink! It may make you feel
HealthWatch To Lose Weight, Eat More
With the holidays over, many of us make New Year's resolutions - and chief among them is often losing weight. There’s no lack of advice - and it all seems to focus on calories in vs. calories out. Which is important, but this year you may want to try eating more now to eat less later. It sounds counterintuitive at first, but it makes sense when you think about it. You’re hungry, and grab a 100-calorie snack pack of cookies or pretzels. It’s only 100 calories, so how bad can it be for you? But as you know, it’s more likely to make you hungrier than if you ate something more substantial. According to Amy Goodson, RD, dietitian for Texas Health Ben Hogan Sports Medicine, “eating small amounts of carbohydrates does nothing but spike your blood sugar and leave you wanting more carbs.” She goes on to recommends a protein such as peanut butter or string cheese with an apple. “They are higher in calories per serving, but the protein and fat helps you get full faster and stay full longer—and you end up eating fewer calories overall,” she says. Source: Time.com. Strange but True Health
2017 - Q3 Healthwatch
3 Tips For A Healthy Summer It’s finally summer! Something we wait for all year in Cleveland. And, while you should definitely take some time to have fun, recharge, and spend time with family and friends, here are three health tips that will help you have a healthy summer! 1. Eat More Berries: An easy way to improve your diet this summer, is to have a cup of mixed fresh berries every day. They’re full of antioxidants, which may help prevent damage to tissues and reduce the risks of age-related illnesses. They’re also high in fiber, which helps keep cholesterol low and may even help prevent some cancers. 2. Drink alcohol – for your heart! Ok, this one comes with a caveat. No one needs to be encouraged to have a drink during the hot summer months, but don’t overdo it. Research shows that drinking alcohol in moderation – defined as about two drinks a day – can help protect against heart disease. 3. Plant a garden: Gardening is a great way to reduce stress. It helps you focus, beautifies your house or yard, and helps you to get out for some fresh air. Just remember, if you’ll be out in the sun for more than a few minutes, it’s best to wear suntan lotion of at least SPF
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