Oysters are a Nutritional Powerhouse!

At Private Home Health Care, we love oysters because they are highly nutritious and are a classic coastal New England delight!

Oysters contain many nutrients, such as:

-‘Good’ fat: Oysters are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 is beneficial in many ways: it can lower cardiovascular mortality risk, can benefit brain health, has anti inflammatory properties, which decreases risk of chronic disease, as well as reduce symptoms of high blood pressure.

-Protein: Not just the amount, but the type of protein you eat matters! Oysters oysters offer seven grams of protein for only 68 calories, which rivals lean red meat for protein density. And unlike lean red meat, oysters contain a high amount of omega-3, which means they offer a high amount of quality protein.

-Zinc: Zinc plays an important role in your body – it helps promote immunity, protein and DNA synthesis, as well as general growth and development. In fact, oysters are the world’s best dietary source of the mineral!

-Vitamin D: Among its many functions, vitamin D promotes bone health and modulates cells, immune function, and inflammation. Also, it even has anti-cancer properties. Sunshine is the single best source of vitamin D, but we can also get it from our diet, and oysters are one of the best sources.

-Vitamin B12: This is important for maintaining healthy blood cells and nerves, and it plays an essential role in DNA synthesis. When people think of vitamin B12, red meat usually comes to mind. However, oysters offer far more of this nutrient than any typical meat!

Oysters are indeed delicious, but you have to be careful when eating them raw. A bad oyster can make you feel ill or lead to food poisoning. However, you can still enjoy oysters if you prefer not to eat them raw! Oysters can be grilled, steamed, or fried. Steaming oysters is the healthiest option, and keeps the original flavors most intact!

Now we know just how good oysters are for you, time to start slurping!

National Coloring Book Day

National Coloring book day

Today, August 2cnd, is National Coloring Book Day! Once thought of an activity for children, coloring books are now becoming popular with adults, especially seniors. Not only is coloring a fun activity, but there are also many health benefits! These include:

-Relaxing the brain by minimizing the amount of thoughts running through your head.

-Reducing anxiety and stress by engaging in a grounding and calming activity, which takes your mind off of any issues at hand.

-Develops focus because coloring fosters direct attention to the task at hand. Because your immediate focus is on the picture, your mind becomes centered. Practicing focus is very good exercise for the brain, which helps with brain health and healthy aging. 

-Increases creativity because it is an artistic activity. Creativity is excellent for seniors because it can serve as an emotional outlet and a way for seniors to express themselves.
-Enhances motor skills due to the hand-eye coordination needed to color. The precision required will help reinforce and improve very basic motor skills that begin to fade as we age.

National Sisters Day

National Sisters Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August — this year it fell on August 1. Nothing can quite compare to the bond that sisters have and this is a day to treasure the closeness that forms as you grow up together, sharing your secrets, your dreams, and all the fun times. Sisters have a deep connection that grows throughout childhood and remains strong throughout life. National Sisters Day is a chance for you to spend some quality time with your sister and to cherish the connection that you have.

Private Home Health Care encourages you to celebrate National Sister day by reaching out to your sister! Even if you do not have a sister, a close female friend can be like a sister, and you can celebrate National Sisters Day together!

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

August 4th is National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day!

Who doesn’t love chocolate chip cookies?! They are a favorite old young and old alike, a classic American dessert that is now loved worldwide. 

Did you know that chocolate chip cookies were invented by accident? You may associate the name ‘Toll House’ from the chocolate chips or break-apart refrigerated cookie brand. Before ‘Toll House’ became synonymous with chocolate chip cookies, it was actually the name of an inn located in Whitman, Massachusetts. In the 1930s, Ruth Wakefield, owner of the Toll House Inn in Whitman, Massachusetts, added broken chocolate bar pieces into her cookie batter thinking that they would melt. Instead, the classic dessert was born.

There are some health benefits to eating chocolate chip cookies! Sweets can actually help with memory. The taste of a favorite childhood treat, such as a chocolate chip cookie, can bring you back to those days and help with memory recollection from early years. Also, using quality dark chocolate chips with a high cocoa content makes for a healthier choice. With antioxidants such as flavonoids and less sugar, dark chocolate is a more wholesome mix-in for our cookies. Quality dark chocolate is rich in fiber, iron, magnesium, copper, and manganese. 

Today, for National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, Private Home Health Care invites you to celebrate by baking up a batch of these yummy treats or munching on the best chocolate chip cookie you can find at a local bakery!

More National Avocado Day

More National avocado day

July 31st is National Avocado Day! While guacamole is grand, don’t settle for just chips and dip on this food holiday. Since avocado is so versatile, clear the table for the entire meal. That includes everything from the appetizer to the dessert. On National Avocado Day, this tree grown fruit has them all covered!

There are many health benefits that come from avocados. For one, avocados target insulin resistance with heart-healthy fats. They also fight Alzheimer’s with its Omega 3 fatty acids. Another one of the secret weapons in avocados are the high oleic acid content. This moisturizing fatty acid helps keep skin soft and hydrated but also supports the regeneration of damaged skin cells, reducing redness and irritation.

Avocados are packed with good fats and fiber that help you stay full longer. In addition to healthy fats and dietary fiber, avocados are also filled with other goodies your body needs. Avocados are a great source of nutrients such as folate, magnesium, potassium, vitamins B2, B3, B5, and B6, as well as vitamin C.

Avocados are not only healthy, they’re also incredibly delicious and go with many types of food. You can add them to salads and various recipes or simply scoop them out with a spoon and eat them plain. A notable mention is guacamole, which is arguably the most famous use of avocados. And if you are craving something more sweet, feel free to try avocado ice cream!

Enjoy an avocado and try a new recipe. Enjoy the taste without worrying about the health consequences and celebrate National Avocado Day with Private Home Health Care!

National Avocado Day

Yes! It is finally here – National Avocado Day!

In recent years avocados have become very popular – and for good reason. Not only are they creamy and delicious, but they are very healthy!

Did you know that avocados are not a vegetable, rather they are a fruit! Also, because it’s a fleshy fruit produced from a single ovary, an avocado is actually a berry! (And we do LOVE berries at Private Home Care!)

Although avocados may be a little higher in fat than most fruits, they are still a very healthy food! This is because it is the type of fat found in avocados. Avocados contain mostly ‘good’ fats, including monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Avocados do have a small amount of saturated fat (the unhealthy fat), but the high level of fiber in the fruits in a way counterbalances that because fiber is known for lowering cholesterol. Because avocados are higher in fat, be sure to be aware of the portion size (meaning it may not be the best idea to consume 4 avocados a day).

P.S. Please note in the video how they are SAFELY cutting open avocados. Rest it on the cutting board and turn the avocado against the knife blade, then break open. Unfortunately, every year many people end up injuring themselves because they tried cutting open an avocado in their hand. Enjoy this delicious food safely!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYPKqRIFVdU

National Parents Day

July 25th was National Parent’s Day, celebrated on the fourth Sunday in July. On this day each year, Americans recognize outstanding parents, celebrate the teamwork in raising children, and support the role of parental guidance in building a strong, stable society. Throughout the nation in almost every state, community leaders organize Parents’ Day events to honor parents.

National Parent’s Day was established in 1994 when the Congressional Resolution was signed into law for “recognizing, uplifting, and supporting the role of parents in the rearing of children.”

National Parents’ Day honors all parents. No matter where our parents may be, this day serves to celebrate their important role in our lives. Parents play a vital role in the lives of children. From our birth, parents protect, teach, provide, and serve as role models. As part of a family, we look to them for guidance. We mirror their behavior and learn to be a core part of our communities. On this particular Sunday, we honor all parents who do everything to raise and protect their children.

Private Home Care honors parents by helping their children take care of parents in old age. Just as your parents cared for you, elderly parents may need caregiving from their children. Caregiving for an older parent is not always easy, but that is what Private Home Care is for – to provide the highest quality of care for your parents and loved ones.