Category: Health

Are You Taking Care Of Your Heart?

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.

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Are You Getting Enough Water?

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.

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Why Am I So Stressed?

Tired all the time? Stressed to the MAX? When I look around, I see many people so stressed trying to live their normal lives, which can be SUPER demanding. I used to think I was tired all the time because I am no longer 29, but could it be something more than that?

What do you know about your adrenal glands?

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Are There Good Fats?

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.

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Penny Wise Pound Foolish

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!

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You Could Be At Risk For Heat Exhaustion

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:

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Older is BETTER

Are you concerned about getting old? I had a boss years ago who said getting older is not a big deal…and it is much better than the alternative (dying young). I know—he had lots of one-liners, but some, like this one, really imparted some wisdom.

As a younger person, I remember seeing people in their forties (and beyond) and for the most part, they looked like old people. Today, we take better care of ourselves and honestly, we look great!! We are still vibrant and we have gained wisdom which helps us to make better decisions. We are active and enjoying our lives. Many surveys show that as we get older we are also more content with our lives!

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Are You Ready For Summer?

Summer is here!! It is time to plan your vacation and fun activities for the warm months of the year.  If you live in Florida like I do, we have summer weather most of the year, but now the kids are out of school for a few weeks and we are all planning our summer activities.

We usually think of days at the beach or around the pool during the summer. If you have children, be sure they know how to swim and never leave them unsupervised. Learn CPR and keep a phone nearby to call for help in an emergency.

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We Are Not Getting Older-Just Better!

Osteoarthritis and the related discomforts can start at any age, but it is most prevalent for those of us over 50. As we age, the body produces less glucosamine and we are more prone to stiffness (especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods of time) and aching joints.

With some conditions in our bodies, we can adjust our diets and get more of the needed nutrient that way, but you cannot get glucosamine from foods. It is a natural chemical found in the human body and is also found in the shells of shellfish. (NOTE: If you are allergic, this product does contain shellfish)

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Taking Care of You–Mind, Body and Spirit

The absolute best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to take care of yourself. You cannot really take care of your family, your home, your job unless you are healthy and strong. We are not one dimensional beings—we are Body, Mind and Spirit!

I found this great list of ways to take care of ourselves and want to share it with you. You can read more by Clicking Here

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