Melt Stress with Ice Cream

Ice cream – One of the best stress relievers known to mankind, conveniently found in your freezer. Ice cream can help with mood and even prevent disease! Feeling low or sad? Grab a spoon and dig into your favorite flavor of ice cream, because eating ice cream can actually cheer you up! There is a scientific explanation for the same – when you eat ice cream, your body produces a hormone known as serotonin. Serotonin, which is also known as a feel-good hormone makes you feel happy!

The brain responds to the sweet and fatty solution of ice cream when it infuses with your stomach acids. Eating ice cream when you feel depressed, anxious or sad provides amazing benefits.

While ice cream helps calm the nervous system, it provides a stimulus to the thrombotonin. This is a hormone that is responsible for triggering the happiness and excitement in humans. This is also the hormone that helps decrease the feeling of stress and restlessness.

Whether you are happy or sad, eating ice cream will surely make you feel better. And with as many benefits as you can get from eating ice cream, eating too much of it may also cause adverse effects to the body.

Ice cream can protect against disease:

Now we know that ice cream can lift your mood and is a rockstar food for stress relief. But what role does stress play in disease? And how does ice cream help?

Some amounts of stress are good for you, it motivates us to do things such as working extra hours to meet a deadline for work. However, prolonged stress leads to highly increased physiological levels of cortisol. This alters the effectiveness of cortisol to regulate both the inflammatory and immune response because it decreases tissue sensitivity to cortisol. As the human body heals, inflammation becomes a response to stress. Like stress, inflammation is beneficial, although when stress becomes chronic, it can lead to constant tissue breakdown and impairment of the immune system. When there is constant tissue breakdown, the immune cells cannot do their job. This jeopardizes the immune system that protects against illness and disease. If you have chronic stress, your body makes so much cortisol that the immune cells become less effective, which leaves you susceptible to sickness. This can range from catching the common cold or developing something more serious like cancer or heart disease.

However, the opposite effect happens when you reduce or relieve stress, which lowers cortisol levels. This means that when you eat ice cream and combat stress, your cortisol levels go down and it gives your immune cells a chance to not only repair but to do their job better, which is to keep you healthy! Eat ice cream → less stress → healthier body and a happier you!

Sounds pretty sweet! Private Home Health Care is serious about stress relief. That is why it is one of our missions to provide first class care for your loved ones. We understand that caregiving can be stressful, and we are here to relieve you of that burden. Call us today for a free consultation to learn about our comprehensive services, and while you are at it, eat ice cream!

Ice Cream For Your Health!

I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Today is National Ice Cream Day! Who doesn’t love ice cream?! Everyone enjoys this frosty treat, no matter the season! Though it is not known to be a health food, ice cream actually has health benefits! Private Home Health Care is here to let you know how much ice cream is good for your health!

Source of Vitamins – Ice-cream contains milk and milk solids, which means whenever you eat ice cream, your body obtains the goodness of vitamin D, vitamin A, calcium, phosphorus and riboflavin. Apart from this, the different flavours add extra nutrition quotient to it. For example, dark chocolate ice cream is loaded with antioxidants and flavonoids, which helps in lowering your bad cholesterol and helps improve your heart health.

Provides Energy – Not only does ice cream have nutritional value, but it also is an incredible source of energy. Ice cream is rich with carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, which are all needed for our bodies to produce energy. Careful on how much energy you want to get from ice cream, after all, it can also help you gain weight. Everything in moderation remember! Ice cream gives you instant energy. This is because it contains ample amounts of sugar in it, which instantly makes you feel pepped up and energised. So, next time you are feeling sluggish and your blood sugar is low, grab that scoop of ice-cream and relish it.

Strengthens bones – Calcium is one of the most important minerals that is required by our bodies to maintain our bone health. However, this mineral is not produced by our bodies, which means we have to consume food that is rich in calcium to meet our body’s requirement of calcium. Ice cream is loaded with calcium and can be included in the diet to meet up for the calcium requirements. The calcium and phosphorus found in ice cream work together to build strong teeth and bones and help prevent osteoporosis.

Lowers risk of breast cancer – Lack of calcium in the body is one of the culprits of breast cancer in women. Therefore, if you wish to keep the deadly ailments like breast cancer at bay, include more calcium-rich food in your diet – ice cream can be one of them. Ample calcium intake can lower or reduce the chances of breast cancer in women. As mentioned above, the calcium found in ice cream helps prevent osteoporosis, which is more likely to occur in women as they age. So ladies, grab a spoon and dig in!

Weight gain – Yes, weight gain can be a health benefit! Medical conditions or other factors can cause unhealthy weight loss or make it hard for those trying to gain weight. The body needs a certain percentage of fat to be healthy and function at an optimal level. If you are trying to gain weight, ice cream is the perfect food to come to the rescue! It is high in fat and sugar, which helps promote weight gain, which means ice cream for breakfast!

How to Beat the Winter Blues

Private Home Care is here to tell you how to beat the ‘Winter Blues’!

As the days get shorter, many people find themselves feeling a little down. The long New England winters can certainly be dreary. You might feel blue around the winter holidays, or get into a slump after the fun and festivities have ended. ‘Winter blues’ is a general term, not a medical diagnosis. It’s fairly common, and it’s more mild than serious. It usually clears up on its own in a fairly short amount of time.

Though the sun may not be as strong this time of year, there are ways of creating your own sunshine – both literally and figuratively. Sticking with healthy habits and taking extra actions to help keep you cheery can help beat the winter blues.

Exercise!!

The simplest means of beating the winter blues is to force yourself to stay active, even when it’s dark and cold. Research has shown that even a 15-minute walk in the middle of the day is enough to increase crucial neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and norepinephrine, which help energise the brain and regulate circadian rhythms. If you can exercise earlier in the day, absorbing natural daylight within two hours of waking up, it will be even more beneficial.

Physical activity has been shown to boost mood, decrease the symptoms of depression, and reduce stress. Ideally, aim for 30 to 60 minutes a day, five days a week, of aerobic exercise, strength training, yoga, or other fitness-related activities.

Sometimes the prospect of venturing out into the cold for exercise can be daunting, but with some tips and tricks, you can motivate yourself to do it. Plan on meeting up with a friend, that will distract you from the cold. Or, better yet, get coffee to go and take a walk while sipping on a warm beverage. Making a holiday season playlist for walking outside will help get you in the spirit and you may even end up not minding the cold. Another good idea is to invest in some exercise equipment and put it near a window. Even a quick 20 minute ride on a stationary bike next to a bright window can do wonders for your mood and health.

Connect

This year poses unique challenges, but it is vital to connect with others. Plan regular video chats with friends and family, and reach out to people when you start to feel a little low. The world right now calls for creative ways to connect, and some good ideas can be doing a virtual cooking class or workshop, meeting with a virtual book club, hosting virtual trivia with friends, and more. Though this may not be ideal, looking back you will be proud of yourself that you were able to overcome this challenge!

Shine a Light

Low levels of sunlight in the winter can decrease levels of vitamin D, which can lead us to feeling down. However, there is a simple fix for that. Sun lamps – specially designed light fixtures which simulate sunshine – are a proven way to help bring the sun indoors. They are simple and easy to use, medical professionals recommend sitting in front of a sun light in the morning or when you first wake up to get a boosted dose of sunshine for the day. It can even be as easy as sitting next to the sunlight while reading the morning news! Doctors recommend using a sunlamp for at least 20 minutes a day, but longer for better results.

Laugh It Off

Laughing is one of the best ways to beat the blues. Pick out a funny movie, listen to comedy podcasts or read a funny book to instantly boost your mood. Some funny holiday season movies include Elf, Laughing naturally releases feel-good chemicals that can elevate your mood and well being for hours after you chuckle. Listening to funny things while you exercise or when being exposed to the sunlamp increases the benefits!

Peak Sleep

Nothing makes you feel better than a good night’s rest or waking up after a cozy nap. Without regular, adequate sleep, our mood can get out of whack. Sleep hygiene supports healthy sleeping habits, which have a huge influence on your overall well being. Some tips include:

-Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day

-Follow a simple bedtime routine that signals rest, such as taking a bath, turning down the lights, or drinking a cup of herbal tea

-Expose yourself to light as soon as you wake up

-Sleep in a cool, dark room

-Don’t use electronics in your bedroom. Try not to look at a screen at least an hour before bed – the blue light stimulates your brain and keeps you up.

-Write all of your worry thoughts on a piece of paper before bed so that if you wake up in the night, you can tell your mind you don’t need to worry because the thoughts are captured on paper and will be waiting for you to tackle in the morning

Candy Canes

DID YOU KNOW:

Candy canes were first invented in 1670 in Cologne, Germany.  The cane-shaped candy was introduced by a choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral. He bent the sugar-sticks into canes to resemble a shepherd’s hook. The all-white candy canes were given to children who attended the ceremonies to keep them quiet. This became a popular tradition, and eventually the practice spread across Europe and America. The first record of candy canes in America goes all the way back to 1847 when a German immigrant used them to decorate his holiday tree. Now candy canes are a staple for celebrating the Christmas season! Private Home Health Care wishes you and your loved ones a minty fresh and cool holiday season!

Mighty Mint!

Peppermint is a beloved flavor of the holiday season. Peppermint finds its way into just about every Christmas treat imaginable – candy canes, peppermint Bark, peppermint cookies, peppermint candies, peppermint hot chocolate, peppermint cocktails, and more. Why is it so popular? The flavor of mint can cut through the richer flavors associated with food eaten during the holiday season. It’s a palette cleanser of sorts. Mint leaves behind a cool sensation in the mouth and, as Christmas is associated with snow and ice, this seems to make sense as the flavor of snow.

Peppermint is not just for treats – there are many health benefits of this minty herb! Peppermint also works as an anti-inflammatory agent and it can relieve indigestion — quite helpful as we begin the annual Christmas binge. Peppermint oil has been shown to relax muscles in your digestive system and improve various digestive symptoms. Therefore, peppermint tea may provide similar benefits. As peppermint acts as a muscle relaxant and pain reliever, it may diminish certain types of headaches. The menthol in peppermint oil increases blood flow and provides a cooling sensation, possibly easing pain. Peppermint, of course, freshens breath and the peppermint oil itself has been shown to kill germs that lead to bad breath.

Peppermint has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Because of this, peppermint tea may fight clogged sinuses due to infections, the common cold and allergies. Additionally, research demonstrates that menthol — one of the active compounds in peppermint — improves the perception of airflow in your nasal cavity. Therefore, steam from peppermint tea may help you feel as though your breathing is easier. Compounds found in peppermint oil help perk you up, which has been shown to relieve fatigue and daytime sleepiness. Along the same vein, peppermint oil may help increase alertness and memory, which may improve concentration. Now that you know what wonderful health benefits that peppermint has, Private Home Health Care invites you to eat as many peppermint flavored foods as you can!

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Yesterday was International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Private Home Health Care welcomes you to celebrate those with disabilities as well as raise awareness about persons with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities are no different from anyone else, and they absolutely deserve the same happiness, respect, and quality of life as everyone else. International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3 is a day to help everyone become more compassionate and understanding of the challenges faced by people with disabilities. The day doesn’t discriminate between mental and physical disabilities, and the spirit of the day is to ensure that all people in the world have equal opportunities for work, play, health, and success. People with disabilities can be and very often are contributing and valued members of society, and today is all about appreciating them.

The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution 47/3. It aims to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. At Private Home Health Care, we strive every day to provide exceptional caregiving for seniors with age-related disabilities. We wholeheartedly believe in this cause to support persons with disabilities because it is one of the fundamentals of our company is to promote health and happiness for all!

The 2020 theme for International Day of Persons with Disabilities is ‘Not all Disabilities are Visible’ also focuses on spreading awareness and understanding of disabilities that are not immediately apparent, such as mental illness, chronic pain or fatigue, sight or hearing impairments, diabetes, brain injuries, neurological disorders, learning differences and cognitive dysfunctions, among others. This includes cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, which may occur in the aging brain. Private Home Health Care is a proud advocate for those with age-related cognitive issues. We recognize and support individuals with these conditions and their rights promote rights and well being. What is more, we celebrate those with cognitive conditions and their families. For over 30 years, we have been improving the quality of life and providing expert caregiving for seniors with cognitive challenges. Private Home Health Care wishes you a Happy International Day of Persons with Disabilities!

National Cookie Day!

It is the day we have all been waiting for – December 4th is National Cookie Day! Who doesn’t love a good cookie?! Whether soft or crunchy, big or small, there is a cookie to satisfy every taste. Cookies are comforting for everyone, and are a perfectly sized treat! (The trouble is, it is hard to stop at just one…) Now that it is the holiday season, it is the mighty cookie’s time to shine! Bakers, warm up your ovens – cookie swap parties and cookie tins are a beloved tradition. Many times recipes are passed down through generations and they help us feel closer to our families. Private Home Health Care wishes you a Happy National Cookie Day!

Because everybody loves cookies, they are a fabulous gift. Even better is to bake cookies for someone – aren’t homemade gifts the best?! It has been proven that favorite baked goods and sweets can help with memory because it takes us back to positive memories of childhood or special occasions like holidays. Not to mention that they keep forever if they are stored properly. There’s no doubt about: cookies more than deserve their own day, and that’s why Cookie Day is celebrated around the world in order to pay tribute to these delicious little treats. So grab some flour, butter and sugar, and let’s get celebrating, shall we?

In America, a cookie is described as a thin, sweet, small cake. By definition, a cookie can be a variety of hand-held, flour-based sweet cakes, either crisp or soft. Each country has its own word for “cookie”. In England and Australia they’re referred to as biscuits, in Spain they’re galletas. Germans call them keks and in Italy they have several names to identify the various forms of cookie. In America, the Dutch word “koekje” was Anglicized to “cookie”. The sweet treat came to America through the Dutch in New Amsterdam in the late 1620s. The earliest reference to cookies in America is in 1703, when the Dutch in New York provided 800 cookies for a funeral.

Hard cookie-like wafers have existed for as long (and maybe even longer) as baking has been documented. However, they were not sweet enough to be considered cookies by modern standards. They appear to have some origins in 7th century CE Persia, shortly after the use of sugar became relatively common in the region. They spread to Europe through the Muslim conquest of Spain. By the 14 century, they were common in all levels of society throughout Europe, from royal cuisine to street vendors.

Cookies are one of the most customizable baked goods, you can use whatever ingredients you like to create any flavor! But, you don’t need to be a whiz in the kitchen to make cookies, even break-a-part store bought (home baked!) cookies are a great treat. What is more, because cookies are so flexible, there is plenty of opportunity to make healthy cookies! Yes – you heard me, healthy baked goods!

Here are some healthy cookie recipes! Here at Private Home Health Care, we love cookies of all sorts, sizes, and flavors! Today on National Cookie Day, Private Home Health Care encourages you to indulge in eating cookies! Ideas to celebrate National Cookie Day include stopping by your favorite bakery for yummy cookies, showing off your skills in the kitchen and baking some for loved ones, or hold a charity bake-off where sell cookies and donate the proceeds to a deserving cause. Happy National Cookie Day!

https://www.brit.co/healthy-christmas-cookie-recipes/