DAILY “LITTLE THINGS” = A HEALTHIER YOU I just received the August 2022 issue of the online Harvard Health Letter. In it I found recommendations on fitting into our daily routine “little things” that we might otherwise neglect or forget that could boost our health. Here are excerpts from the article by Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, The little things that can improve your health. Schedule these simple yet effective activities throughout your day Eating a plant-based diet, exercising, controlling weight, not smoking, limiting alcohol intake, and getting enough sleep are all pillars of a healthy lifestyle. They’re linked to lower...
KEEP UP YOUR ENERGY! During this continuing pandemic, it’s easy enough to let slide lifestyle habits that can sap your energy. If your gym is closed you might not be getting in your normal exercise routine. You may be eating more “comfort” food than usual. Or having an extra glass of wine or can of beer in the evening than you did pre-covid. Yet, it’s important to keep up your energy! In addition to hopefully avoiding coranavirus, you’ll also have less chance of getting the flu or pneumonia, having a coronary problem or developing diabetes just by attending to all...
THE HIGHS & LOWS OF YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE READING A couple of weeks ago I went in for my yearly physical with my physician. Before I saw her, a nurse took my readings including my blood pressure. The top (systolic pressure) number read 155. “Wow!” I said, “It’s usually a lot lower than that.” Because I normally have to wait for 15 minutes before seeing the doctor, this day I arrived just at my appointment time. And wouldn’t you know—the nurse took me right back to the examining room, sat me down and took the measurements. I thought that maybe...
GUT REACTIONS This week I’ve been reading about the gut-brain connection. It seems that having a “gut-wrenching” feeling is no joke and that the gastrointestinal tract is indeed sensitive to emotions. Anger, sadness, anxiety, joy and others can trigger symptoms in the gut. But your brain can also react to signals from your stomach. Thus, your stomach or intestinal distress can be the cause or the product of anxiety and stress. The gut includes every organ involved in digesting and processing food. The lining of your gut has been called your “second brain” and communicates back and forth with your...
KEEP YOURSELF HYDRATED We’re heading towards summer and as it gets hotter and we perspire more we especially risk becoming dehydrated. But drinking sufficient fluids is crucial because they carry nutrients to your cells, flush bacteria from your bladder and prevent constipation. I’ve read that older folks don’t sense thirst as much as they did when they were younger. And if you’re on a medication that causes fluid loss, such as a diuretic, it can be especially critical. Here are tips from the September 2018 Mayo Clinic article Want to stay hydrated? Drink, before you’re thirsty: Thirst isn’t a helpful...
PHOSPHATE ADDITIVES: ANOTHER REASON TO AVOID PROCESSED & FAST FOODS Recent studies suggest that inorganic phosphate may be a reason why Americans are exercising less and becoming more sedentary. Phosphorous is a mineral that’s naturally found in protein-rich foods including dairy, meat, fish, nuts and eggs. Your body needs phosphorus to help your kidneys, bones and muscles function properly Phosphate, however, is an inorganic (non-natural) derivative of phosphorus that’s often added to packaged meats, bottled drinks and fast foods as emulsifiers, to add color or to increase shelf life. New Laboratory Studies Here are excerpts from the January 7, 2019...
DIABETES—A CHANGE OF LIFESTYLE CAN PREVENT OR EVEN REVERSE IT Today I’ve been reading the statistics on diabetes in this country. I had no idea that it and its precondition were so darn prevalent: More than 100 million U.S. adults are now living with diabetes or prediabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in their press release in July 2017. The report found that as of 2015 more than 30 million American adults have diabetes and another 84 million have prediabetes, a condition that if not treated often leads to type 2 diabetes within 5 years....
SLEEP DEPRIVATION IS DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS Last week I read a Washington Post online article warning that our general lack of sleep is escalating into a health emergency. I think we seniors need to especially pay attention to getting enough sleep, what with insomnia due to anxiety or restless legs or arthritis pain or needing to use the bathroom more frequently. Last June I wrote a post giving recommendations on how to get better sleep, Nothing Like a Good Night’s Sleep. However, the Washington Post piece was more on the dangers of not getting enough sleep. Here are excerpts from the...
FLU FABLES: 14 FLU MYTHS It’s January, and we’re back into the height of flu season. If you’ve had the flu (influenza) as an adult you know how sick you can be. Heck, even for a kid it’s no picnic. You may have your theories on how to avoid the flu—and you may be 100% right. However, there’s also a huge amount of misinformation and bad advice out there on dealing with the flu and the flu shot. Here are excerpts from the November 12, 2018 updated Harvard University article 10 Flu Myths MYTH: You can catch the flu from...
CARPAL TUNNEL TROUBLE One morning back in July I began to tie my shoes and found I couldn’t properly manipulate the laces with my left hand plus I felt a tingling in my fingers. I asked myself what the heck could this be? I have arthritis in my hands so suspected that maybe it was especially acting up that morning. But when the same thing happened again later that day when I changed into my running shoes I began to think that this might be the dreaded carpal tunnel syndrome. But could it come on so quickly? I visited my...
