Month: March 2019

2019-03-15T12:31:00

(BPT) – –

2019-03-15T14:13:00

(BPT) – As we age, we begin to learn — sometimes firsthand — how devastating a fall can be. It isn’t quite as easy as it once was to hop back up and continue on our way.

Each year, more than one in four Americans aged 65 and over experience a fall, which contributes to roughly 3 million emergency room visits and nearly 30,000 deaths per year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the majority of falls are non-life-threatening, they can take a serious toll on quality of life and independence.

The good news, however, is that most falls are preventable.

“Being aware of the risk factors and taking the proper precautions can reduce your chances of serious injury, and help you maintain and improve the quality of your health and remain independent,” said Dr. James Metcalf, a medical director with UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement.

Read on for important risk factors and tips for avoiding falls:

1. Lower-body strength — People who have weaker lower bodies or have trouble with balance and walking should take extra precautions. Do exercises that can strengthen your legs and improve balance.
2. Medication — Any time you get a new prescription, ask your pharmacist or doctor about side effects like dizziness or drowsiness. These can affect your balance.
3. Footwear — Pay attention to foot pain as it may be a symptom of poor footwear. Make sure your shoes fit appropriately and are comfortable. Wear low-heeled shoes with rubber soles for good traction. Generally, avoid wearing slippers, shoes with leather soles or high heels. See a doctor if you are experiencing foot pain.
4. Clutter — Most falls happen at home. Rugs or objects in your way can be problematic. Remove clutter, fix steps that are uneven and make sure there is adequate lighting throughout your home.
5. Physical support — If you don’t already have them, install grab bars and handrails in the bathroom and on stairways. Use a cane, walker, crutches or anything else that will help make walking easier.
6. Hearing and vision — Get your vision and hearing checked regularly. Problems with hearing or sight can throw off your balance and coordination. Ask your doctor if you could benefit from some vision or hearing aids.

“Falls are more common than many people think, and all of us are susceptible,” said Metcalf. “So be aware of risks from your medications, stay active, clear your home of trip hazards and talk to your doctor about strategies you could try to avoid a potentially devastating fall.”

2019-03-15T15:01:01

(BPT) – When the temperature is dropping outside, most people want to cozy up inside with their favorite winter comfort foods. Stopping by your favorite restaurant on your way home from work is all too easy, but months of eating heavy, satisfying dishes isn’t good for your health.

With bold flavors, nutrient-dense ingredients and a few cooking tricks, sticking to a healthy winter routine is simple. Dietitian McKel Hill, MS, RDN, LDN and founder of Nutrition Stripped, offers her top tips:

Focus on real, whole foods

Stay away from fast food and artificial ingredients and instead stock up on whole foods like leafy greens, nuts and fruits. Find recipes that help you recreate your favorite comfort food recipes in a healthy way, like a vegan fettuccine Alfredo. If you’re entertaining guests, a plant-based entree ensures that most guests can share in the meal. For example, a vegetarian nut loaf is a dense and hearty base that you can spice up by roasting Brussels sprouts, carrots and sweet potatoes, with rosemary for added fiber and nutrients.

Find the right tools

When you’re hungry, you need cooking tools that will help you get the job done faster. LG’s smart ovens with ProBake Convection(TM) ensure even baking and consistent browning every time, and their large capacity allows you to cook several dishes at once. You can roast a pan of veggies and your lean protein all at once — you won’t have time to snack on junk food. You can also check the status of your dish from your smartphone, instead of spending so much time in the kitchen.

Plan ahead

Plan your meals ahead of time so you know what’s on the menu. You won’t be tempted to stop and pick up takeout if you have all the ingredients for a delicious meal at home. But despite your best efforts, life gets in the way of even the most perfectly planned meal. Select LG electric oven models allow you to preheat remotely from your phone when you’re stuck in traffic or in a long line at the store.

Keep healthy snacks on hand

Encourage yourself to make healthy choices all day with packable snacks on hand. Put pre-portioned carrots and hummus or tuna and crackers in your refrigerator for when you need an energy boost. The LG InstaView refrigerator’s Door-in-Door feature allows you to reach in and grab items without opening the main door and dispelling cold air. It’s ideal for putting nutrient-packed snacks and beverages front and center.

A nutrient-dense diet doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite foods. Follow these tips to feel energized and satisfied during the chilly winter months. For more cooking tools and tips, visit lg.com/us/home-appliances.

2019-03-14T18:19:00

(BPT) – Get ready potato chip fans! This week is National Potato Chip Day, and Cape Cod Chips is here to help you spice up snack time with hacks to celebrate. Whether you’re a flavor fiend or a lover of the classics, these five tips will help you kick your chip game up a notch.

Switch Up The Dip:

From sweet and salty to crunchy and smooth, it’s the age-old rule that opposites attract. Find dips with flavors you love that complement your chips to help you dial up your snacking experience. Need flavor ideas to kickstart your creation? Try a Sriracha Queso Dip or a classic Roasted Onion.

Follow Your Sweet Tooth: Chips are the snack you know and love — so think about ways to go above and beyond! Fun fact: Potato chips can be the perfect accompaniment to your sweet treats. Bake them right into your evening plans with a fun Potato Chip Cookie recipe.

Expand Your Horizons:

Have a little fun with snack time — don’t forget to try new flavors to expand your palate. Do you always go for the Original flavor? Try grabbing a bag of Cape Cod Sweet Mesquite Barbeque or the brand new Jalapeño Ranch Waves flavor. The possibilities are endless.

Find the Perfect Pair:

Nothing quite beats the feeling of finding that perfect taste balance. You can mix and match your chips and beverage tastes — like a deep oaky red with a classic original flavor.

Take a Break:

No matter what you do, it’s important to find a few minutes in your busy schedule to focus on you — use snack time as a mini vacation to reset your mind and recharge your day.

So this National Potato Chip Day it’s time to sit back, relax and have a little fun with your snacks. For more recipes and flavors, visit www.capecodchips.com.

2019-03-14T12:01:00

(BPT) – As you age, your risk of falling increases. According to the CDC, one out of four people over the age of 65 falls each year and falling once doubles your chances of falling again. While many conditions can put you at risk for a fall, there are simple steps you can take to boost your overall health to try to decrease the likelihood of falling.

Carol Cummings, senior director of Optimum Life at Brookdale Senior Living, explains how keeping active increases mobility, improves overall health and can help prevent falls. Brookdale encourages its residents to stay active with B-Fit, a specially designed program of fitness classes that supports well-being and functional capabilities, while also providing a social outlet.

How can you lower your risk of falling? The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 150 minutes of exercise per week, incorporating balance, strength, cardiovascular and flexibility exercises. Consult your doctor before beginning any exercise program.

1. Balance.

You can improve your sense of balance with exercise and regular check-ups. “Balance is very complex, and many factors affect our equilibrium,” says Cummings. “These factors include our vision, hearing, reaction time and overall strength.” The first thing you can do is have your vision checked, and update prescriptions for glasses or contacts if necessary. Also ask your doctor for a hearing check.

Some examples of simple balance exercises you can do on your own include:

* Walk heel-to-toe for 20 steps. Steady yourself with a wall if you need support.

* Walk normally in as straight a line as you can.

* See how long you can stand on one foot — try holding that position for 10 seconds on each leg. Make sure to do this near a wall or railing in case you feel unsteady. If standing on one foot is too challenging, try this progression:

* Start by holding on to a wall or sturdy chair with both hands to support yourself.
* Next, hold on to your support with just one hand.
* Then hold on with just one finger of that hand.
* When you are steady enough, try balancing for a few seconds with no support.

Overall exercises to help improve balance include tai chi and any other muscle strengthening exercises.

2. Strength training. Improving muscle strength increases your ability to stay mobile and avoid falls. “We all lose muscle mass with age, beginning around age 40 and accelerating as we get older,” explains Cummings. “Strength training is vital to combating loss of muscle and maintaining strength. Your legs and core constitute your base of support. When you don’t have a strong base, you are more likely to fall. Studies show that those engaged in a strength training program improve their balance.”

Some muscle strength training exercises you can try on your own include:

* To build arm strength, slowly lift and lower a set of hand weights while sitting. Use cans of soup if you don’t have weights.

* Sitting in a straight-back chair, straighten one leg out, then relax it back down, then extend the other leg. While doing several of these “kicks,” raise the knee of the outstretched leg a little higher than the bent leg.

* Strength training doesn’t have to involve much movement. You can do isometric contractions by focusing on one muscle at a time, flexing and holding those muscles for 30 to 60 seconds. Start with 10 seconds, increasing as you build strength.

3. Cardio. This means getting your heart going by steady, repeated movements. Find activities you love to do and make them part of your routine, at least 30 minutes most days. Whether it’s swimming, golf, dancing, riding a bike or walking, cardio activity not only keeps you fit and mobile, but releases stress and boosts your mood. Doing activities with a friend or group — or four-legged companion — makes it more fun and easier to maintain.

4. Flexibility. Staying flexible is difficult as we age, and is often neglected. Whether you sign up for a yoga class or do simple stretches at home, it’s important to stretch after a workout to help avoid injury. Remember to take deep breaths when you are stretching to avoid clenching up muscles. Stretching can be done standing or sitting.

* One easy stretch for your arms and upper back while sitting is to reach your arms across your chest in a big self-hug, stretching your hands as far around yourself as you can. Breathe in and out while you hold the stretch for 10 seconds.

Research shows that staying active as you age not only reduces the risk of falling, but also helps lower blood pressure, lowers rates of heart disease and dementia, plus reduces stress, anxiety and depression. Cummings concludes, “Exercise is probably the most important behavior that helps you maintain health and well-being as you age. The biggest reasons to exercise as you get older are to maintain function, to live as independently as possible and to continue doing the activities you love.”

The above content is shared for educational purposes only. You must consult your doctor before acting on any content in this article, especially if you have a medical condition. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

2019-03-14T12:46:29

(BPT) – Short for cannabidiol, CBD is grabbing headlines every day. Long known to be a beneficial ingredient for health and wellness, now it’s coming to the beauty industry.

Why is it grabbing headlines? Because of its anti-inflammatory, soothing and anti-aging properties, which make the oil an ideal solution to transform your beauty routine, from hair products to lotions to facial oils. If you’re thinking, “Wait, cannabis? That’s marijuana, right?” Wrong. Though it is found in cannabis, it is legal, it won’t get you high and you will pass your drug test with flying colors. That’s because it does not contain THC, the ingredient in cannabis that produces the “high” effect.

Still confused? Kevin Wachs, CEO and co-founder of Earthly Body, offers some of the beauty areas where this oil is having the biggest impact.

Super skin care

We already know that inflammation can spell serious skin woes, but what you might not know is that CBD’s anti-inflammatory properties can do wonders to help soothe low-level irritation. The oil, such as CBD Daily’s Serum, moisturizes and soothes skin thanks to the high levels of Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids it contains. These acids deliver important nutrients to the skin while protecting against environmental and other daily stressors. Additionally, the oil works to soothe sore muscles and aches.

Happy hair

Earthly Body’s Emera CBD Haircare line is the first professional haircare line infused with CBD. This, along with other oils, is loaded with essential fatty acids so it helps to keep hair well hdyrated. It also helps to regulate hair loss and control dry hair and scalp conditions. In doing so, it encourages hair growth and promotes overall healthy hair.

“CBD promotes healthy hair growth and good scalp health and protects your hair from daily environmental stresses because it is antioxidant rich,” Wachs said. “It also strengthens your hair and reduces breakage thanks to the high levels of amino acids and offers color protection thanks to tyrosine, too.”

In addition, due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it works to calm and nourish beneath the surface by deeply penetrating and conditioning in conjunction with a blend of ingredients like lemon grass, chamomile and Japanese matcha green tea.

The new look of beauty products

The beauty industry is constantly changing, and as new products and trends enter the market, CBD-related solutions are poised to dominate.

To learn more, visit emerhaircare.com or cbddailyproducts.com.

2019-03-14T10:29:00

(BPT) – From diet and exercise to making time for self-care and relaxation, you might be taking steps to make your health a priority. But when it comes to overall wellness, don’t forget about your brain!

Simple lifestyle choices can have a profound impact on brain health. This Brain Awareness Week consider these expert tips to help brain better — at any age.

Exercise: Physical activity is as important for the brain as it is for the body. It changes the brain in ways that protect memory and thinking skills, while also improving mood and reducing stress. So, what are you waiting for? Whether it’s walking, dancing, yoga or even mopping the kitchen floor, find an activity that works for you. It’s most important that you get your heart rate up and break a slight sweat.

Get your ZZZs: While you sleep, your brain is hard at work restoring information and memories and preparing you for another day. Sleep deprivation has been found to disrupt the brain cells’ ability to communicate with each other, leading to mental lapses and perception and memory problems. To ensure you get a good night’s sleep, stick with a routine and be sure to limit exercise, caffeine, alcohol and screen time close to bedtime.

Eat right: Emerging evidence suggests an association between dietary habits and cognitive performance. Research shows that a Mediterranean-style diet rich in fish, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, olives and nuts helps maintain brain health. Additionally, cutting back on foods high in saturated fats, such as red meat and butter, may help ward off a variety of degenerative diseases affecting your heart and your brain.

Look for science-backed supplements: When choosing a dietary supplement, be sure to look for those with research-backed ingredients and demonstrated cognitive benefits. Certain supplements, such as fish oil rich in DHA, phosphatidylserine (PS), coffee cherry extract, B vitamins and folic acid, have shown potential brain health benefits. Neuriva is a new brand of brain health supplements using clinically proven natural ingredients to help fuel five indicators of brain performance: focus, memory, learning, concentration and accuracy. It will be available as of April 2019 in stores nationwide but you can pre-order on Neuriva.com or Walgreens.com. The supplement itself is part of a holistic eco-system, which includes assessments, exercises and educational materials, tailored to help your brain fitness.

Try new things: De-stress with activities you find enjoyable and find support in your loved ones and social network, but don’t get stuck in a rut. Becoming a life-long learner will enhance intellectual stimulation and help keep you — and your brain — healthier and happier. The most important thing to know is that no matter how old we are we can take simple, and even fun, steps to improve our brain performance.