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National Cousins Day!

National Cousins Day!

National Cousins Day on July 24th recognizes the lifelong relationships that grow among cousins. Our first friendships often form with cousins as young as infants and endure a lifetime. Nowadays, during COVID, it is especially important to spend time with cousins and loved ones! Being able to catch up with cousins after being physically distanced is a heartfelt experience.

Whether cousins grow up together in close-knit families or only see each other occasionally, they share common memories through grandparents, aunts, and uncles. 

At family gatherings, cousins entertain each other and get into trouble together, too. 

They celebrate birthdays and might even blow out the other’s candles to their cousin’s annoyance. When their siblings irritate them, cousins become an ally. Sometimes cousins seem more like siblings, especially if they’re only children. As cousins grow up, watching their children grow reminds them of their youth. And that’s when the cycle begins anew. 

Even if cousins are not close in age, you still hold special, lifelong memories because no one knows you quite like your cousins do :). Whether you are the same age and have memories playing in the yard, or are years apart and have memories of older cousins helping younger ones sneak extra dessert at Thanksgiving (anyone who has done this just smiled and laughed a little), times with cousins are cherished moments.

The day celebrates every age of cousins – new baby cousins and cousins whose babies are all grown up!

Now, during COVID, it is advised to keep your circles smaller for health reasons. That means it is especially important to spend time with those most important to you – family and cousins. Celebrate National Cousins Day by spending time with your cousins today! And if your cousins do not live near, make sure to call or get in touch with them via the internet!

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National Hot Dog Day

National Hot Dog Day in July celebrates a summertime staple on a bun. Enjoy one piping hot and add some relish and mustard to go! Celebrated every year during National Hot Dog Month, this day pays homage to the frankfurter, the footlong, wiener, wienerwurst or even red hot. They taste just as great no matter what we call it.

We make them a variety of ways. They’re portable and easy to make. While many of us prefer the grilled or toasted over a fire, we also boil, pan-fry, and rotisserie-cook them. The list of toppings are numerous – from the basic ketchup, mustard, and relish to onions, mayonnaise, cheese, bacon, chili and sauerkraut – the list keeps growing. Adults and children alike love them too.

Chicagoans smother their Vienna Beef franks with a laundry list of toppings, folks in Arizona pimp their weiners with Mexican-inspired toppings, and if you’re from certain parts of New Jersey, your dogs better be deep-fried and stuffed into Italian bread with a gang of potatoes.

No matter how you like your hot dog prepared, we can all agree on one thing, and that’s that hot dogs have become part if a certain American cultural narrative.

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Summertime Relaxation

On July 22nd, relax in the shade and enjoy National Hammock Day. These portable, comfortable slings create excellent napping spaces no matter where you are!

A hammock is a sling made of fabric, rope, or netting. When suspended between two points, a hammock forms a sling used for swinging, sleeping, or resting. We usually suspend a hammock betwen trees or posts.

The hammock dares back thousands of years to Central America where it protected people from creatures and dirt. Now, the hammock has become more of a leisurely item. Made from a variety of fabrics, it is suspended between trees in backyards and at lake cabins. Easily packed into a backpack, hammock became essential elements of survival. Hikers, campers, and mountain climbers added the light and compact sleep sling to their kits.

Due to their natural swaying motion, hammocks can help you relax, lower blood pressure, and reduce stress levels in the body. It doesn’t get much more relaxing than hanging midair in your hammock, looking up at the beautiful sky, and enjoying the great outdoors.

Many studies have also shown that hammocks not only help you get to sleep faster but they also help you have a much deeper sleep. The natural rocking motion helps you get into a deeper REM sleep and can also help with insomnia.

Hectic schedules and stressful lives are taking their toll on our health. Take your serenity back by taking a lightweight, portable hammock with you. Even if you only have a few minutes to relax you can still set up a hammock quickly and easily to make the most out of those precious moments.

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Nutrition

Nutrition

The standard American diet (SAD) or “junk food” makes us unhealthy and unhappy; it does not provide us with the nutrients our body and brain need for functioning well.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2020-07-preliminary-dietary-guidelines-emphasizes-healthy.html

Nutrition and healthy lifestyle is a mission of Private Home Care. We understand that embracing a healthy lifestyle leads to the highest quality of life, and we integrate these values in our services and work with clients. We also educate the public about the importance of nutrition and health with regard to aging and brain health. 

We support efforts to make healthy lifestyles and nutrition a priority for Americans. Updated dietary guidelines, such as reducing the amount of suggested sugar intake, is a step in a healthier direction.  

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Junk Food

Junk Food

July 21st dedicates a giant menu of items to National Junk Food Day. Each year, the day permits us to chow down on the foods we usually don’t include in our daily diet. Junk foods, by definition, typically contain high fats, sugars, salt, and calories and very little nutritional value.

How did junk foods come to be?

With the advent of packaged foods during the late 1800s, junk food made its way into American life. Still, home-cooked meals remained the standard for several more decades. Eventually, after World War II, the artery-clogging industry took off. Since the population ate out more, traveled more, the industry was primed to produce products at an increased rate.

From the frozen food aisle to fast food chains, a myriad of choices for consumers flooded the market. Potato chips, baked goods and so much more filled supermarket shelves, prepackaged and ready to go.

By the 1970s, junk foods earned a name and a bad one, too. Michael Jacobson, a microbiologist, is credited with coining the phrase. He also set out to curb our appetite for the high sugar, high salt, high preservative foods Americans consumed at an alarming rate.

While deep-fried, fat-laced foods increase our waistlines, cholesterol, and blood sugar numbers, an occasional indulgence shouldn’t impact a healthy, diverse diet and lifestyle. That means there is room for occasional, reasonable indulgence. This does not mean eat a fast food cheeseburger every day! This means that it is ok to enjoy a small slice of cake at a birthday party with a healthy meal! Balance is key. For instance, if you want pizza for lunch, have a single slice with a nice, big, yummy salad. 

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National Junk Food Day

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/rhythms-recovery/202007/national-junk-food-day

Today, July 21, is National Junk Food Day. Over the past few months, COVID and social distancing have been challenging experiences for people. When you are stuck in the house for a long time, it is easy to turn to junk food even though we know it is not the best choice. Frequently eating junk food can become a very unhealthy habit.

“It is hard to resist junk food especially because it is made to be addictive, hitting our taste buds with potently enhanced chemicals that are designed to stimulate our domaine. Cravings hit, often as our mood or energy drops and it’s tempting to turn to that bag of chips or sugar-laden cookies. But it’s important that we remind ourselves that junk food and poor quality nutrition in general, contribute to and exacerbate physical and mental illness. This is true for short term as well as long term health.”

Luckily, it is now summer and the weather is beautiful! Being outside can do wonders, and when people enjoy the fresh air and get exercise, they are happier and less likely to turn to junk food. Take advantage of the season – get outside, exercise and visit farmer’s markets with lovely, healthy foods.

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International Jump Day!

Jump for joy, it is international jump day! Today we talk about jumping!

When we ‘jump for joy’, it means that we are so excited and happy that we literally jump! Try to incorporate more of that happiness in your life and find reasons to jump for joy!

Jumping is also a great exercise! That is why we always see boxers doing it. You can get fit and achieve results from home with a simple jump rope!

Benefits of jumping and jumping rope:

-Burns calories

-Builds up different muscle groups – there are many muscle groups used when jumping!

-Decreases risk of foot and ankle injuries (because muscle groups are strengthened!)

-Increases bone density

-Improves coordination

-It is fun!

-Better balance

-Great for cardiovascular health

-Improves breathing efficiency

-Enhances ability to stay calm – improved ability to jump rope and be synchronous with your body, mind and the rope, can actually help you be more calm in other situations.

So remember to jump for joy and jump for fitness today!Grab a jump rope, get hopping and be amazed by the different ways your body and mind will benefit.

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Massage for Arthritis and Well Being

Massage for Arthritis and Well Being

The third week in July celebrates ‘National Everybody Deserves a Massage Week’. This is a touching week, and we are highlighting the benefits of massage for those suffering from arthritis. At Private Home Health Care, we value integrative therapies and medicines to best benefit our clients, and massage therapy is a proven method to help ease symptoms.

Massage therapy from a registered massage therapist can be a great short-term, drug-free way to soothe arthritis pain and stiffness, as well as help you keep moving. Massage helps relieve pain and eases the muscle stiffness associated with arthritis by improving circulation, helping to reduce inflammation. That translates to enhanced blood flow to arthritic joints, improved movement, and reduced pain.

Benefits of massage are as much physical as they are mental and emotional. Massage also lowers the body’s production of the stress hormone cortisol while boosting production of serotonin, which can improve mood. Additionally, massage can lower production of the neurotransmitter substance P, often linked to pain, and improve sleep as a result.

Our motto – ‘Compassion is at the Heart of Our Care’ rings true for family members of our clients as well! ‘Everybody Deserves A Massage Week’ reminds us of the importance of self care. At Private Home Health Care, our job is to provide the very best care for your loved ones and support aging in place. We encourage their family members to take the very best care of themselves! Massage therapy is a proven method for stress relief and relaxation, and a great way to do self care. This week, give or receive a massage from someone close, or book a massage this week with your favorite massage therapist, because everybody deserves a massage!

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National Lollipop Day

National Lollipop Day

July 20th recognizes National Lollipop Day as a way to celebrate this enduring and ever-popular treat. Pick up your favorite flavor to savor! 

Ever delightful and sweet, lollipops have satisfied generations of sweet tooths. And it’s possible they’ve been doing that for centuries. However, no one is sure how old the lollipop is. During prehistoric times, a form of lollipop may have preserved nuts and berries in honey.

In the United States, confectionaries and medicine shops as early as the 1860s sold lollipops in various forms. However, George Smith gave this sweet treat an official 20th-century story in 1908. Smith earns credit for inventing the modern style lollipop. In 1931, Smith trademarked the name which he claims came from his favorite racing horse, Lolly Pops.

Nowadays, lollipops are now more than just a fun candy! There are cough drops in lollipop shaped form, which is important for seniors who may be prone to choking on cough drops. Have a loved one who is a big lollipop fan? Healthier lollipops are becoming popular! These lollipops are organic and infused with vitamins, which is a fun way to take a multivitamin!

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Your Brain on Chess

Your Brain on Chess

Today is international chess day!

In the game of chess, two opponents go head to head with 16 playing pieces each. These pieces include eight pawns, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, one queen and one king in each color. Their objective is to capture the opponent’s king through a series of strategic moves.

Chess is recognized and scientifically proven as a powerful tool against dementia and Alzheimer’s. It is known that mental stimulation, including games, helps delay, reduce, or even improve cognitive decline and associated diseases. Chess in particular has been recognized as a leading activity for brain health. As we know, the brain is just like a muscle – if you don’t use it, you lose it, and you need to continuously exercise it in order to maintain top brain functioning.

But what about chess makes it so good for your brain?

Improves memory – Being a good player means remembering how your opponent has operated in the past and recalling moves that have helped you win before. 

Grows Dendrites – This means that chess physically bolsters your brain. Dendrites are the tree-like branches that conduct signals from other neural cells into the neurons they are attached to. Think of them like antennas picking up signals from other brain cells. The more antennas you have and the bigger they are, the more signals you’ll pick up. Dementia and Alzheimer’s involve dendrites becoming weakened or tangled, which lessens memory and brain functionality. But, learning a new skill like chess-playing causes dendrites to grow!

Improved concentration – Looking away or thinking about something else for even a moment can result in the loss of a match, as an opponent is not required to tell you how he moved if you didn’t pay attention.

Problem solving – A chess match is like one big puzzle that needs solving, and solving on the fly, because your opponent is constantly changing the parameters.

Enhances Creativity – Since the right hemisphere of the brain is responsible for creativity, it should come as no surprise that activating the right side of your brain helps develop your creative side. Specifically, chess greatly increases originality. 

Chess uses BOTH sides of the brain – Chess is an encompassing brain-game, which means that it involves many parts of your brain! The game is considered a science and an art. Studies show that in order to play chess well, a player must develop and utilize his or her brain’s left hemisphere, which deals with object recognition, as well as the right hemisphere, which deals with pattern recognition. Over time, thanks to the rules and techniques involved in the game, playing chess will effectively exercise and develop not one but both sides of your brain, which is ideal for brain health!

Improved reading and raises IQ – Many studies have shown that playing chess improves reading and raises IQ for children, teenagers, adults, and seniors!

Strengthens planning and foresight – A telling symptoms of cognitive decline is decreased planning and foresight. Strategy games like chess can promote prefrontal cortex development and help them make better decisions in all areas of life, especially those affected by dementia.

Did you know: Millions of people all over the world have been playing chess for over a thousand years! Chess developed in India during the fifth century. Also, the term ‘Checkmate’, used when defeating an opponent in chess, derives from the Persian phrase Shah Mat. The phrase means “the King is dead.”

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