National Pepper Month

What fruit come in green, yellow, orange and red and sometimes in the hot variety?  

If you guessed peppers then you were correct!

The pepper started in Latin America thousands of years ago so they’ve been enjoyed for a very long time.

It’s true that peppers are a fruit and not a vegetable.  It’s all about their seeds. If you’ve ever cut into a pepper you know the multitude of seeds they carry.  (Dry them and plant them and you’ll grow pepper plants.)

You can enjoy a pepper raw, with hummus or cooked to add nice flavor to dishes.  They are a very versatile fruit. Hot peppers like the jalapeno add a kick to dishes if you are feeling adventurous.

The health benefits from peppers are significant.  You won’t get many calories from them but you do get vitamins A and C, potassium, folic acid and fiber. (Red peppers stay on the vine longer so they are the most nutritious.)

Peppers can lower your blood pressure, help your digestion and reduce your risk of diabetes.  All very healthy benefits.

Peppers are not only popular on Earth but up in space as well.  They are grown and enjoyed on the International Space Station!

Private Home Health Care loves to eat peppers.  Sweet, hot, raw and cooked.  All are delicious.  We hope you’ll enjoy some and the health benefits they provide.

The Pomegranate

Pomegranates are a delicious and healthy fruit that you can find from September until January.   

What have you heard about the pomegranate?  Is the word on the street that they are healthy?  If so, that’s true! 

To begin, one pomegranate carries Vitamin C to protect your cells and antioxidants that boost your immune system. 

If that’s not enough, you’ll discover fiber, manganese to help form bone and joint tissues and folate and thiamine to help with cell development and function.  

Furthermore, even though they are high in sugar, if you are diabetic you can enjoy them too.  You can thank the antioxidants that attach to the sugar flowing through your veins for that.

Pomegranates are interesting to look at and once you open them up there are tons of seeds, called arils.

Here are a few tips on how to buy, open and store pomegranates.

You should look for a pomegranate that is heavy.  Avoid any that are bruised, cut or slashed.

In order to open a pomegranate you cut off the top then score along the of the fruit where you see the “ribs”.  Next, pry the sections open with your hands.  You’ll see all the seeds and you can use your thumbs to pop them out into a bowl. 

To store a pomegranate, you should be able to keep the seeds refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 weeks.  You can also freeze them for up to a year.

Pomegranate seeds can be eaten as they are or added to salads.  Likewise you can enjoy them in a smoothie or drink.  They are very versatile.

Private Home Health Care loves to eat pomegranate seeds and we also like to add them to our salads.  Additionally, they are good in smoothies and other drinks.

#NationalPomegranateMonth

Respiratory Care

Have you ever had an issue with your lungs?  If you have and you’ve needed help you likely worked with a respiratory care professional.

Your lungs play a crucial role in your body.  They allow you to breathe, talk as well as send oxygen to various parts of your body.

If your lungs are compromised or not working to full capacity it can cause you distress.

• You could be one of 65 million people with an airway disease like COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) or Asthma.

• You might have a lung tissue disease such as pulmonary fibrosis or a rare case of sarcoidosis (inflammation and abnormal cell deposits.)

• You could find yourself with a lung circulation disease.  Pulmonary hypertension is a form of high blood pressure.  This can be caused by various health issues.

There is a growing field in the respiratory care profession.  People focus on two areas of study:

• Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist

You would operate equipment and screen pulmonary functions in this role.

• Registered Therapist

Your responsibilities broaden with the ability to diagnose, treat and educate on different pulmonary conditions.  

Consequently, you need to go to college for both of these positions and state board certifications are also required.

Private Home Health Care encourages you to seek help and guidance from your medical professional if you notice any changes in your breathing.  We understand the importance of those in the respiratory care profession.

All Hallow’s Eve – Halloween

Private Home Health Care wishes you a safe and Happy Halloween.

We are wondering how some of Halloween’s traditions began.  Are you?

The actual day began at the end of the harvest time and the start of the new year. You may recall that it was actually called Samhain, a Celtic festival.  Roots from our past in agriculture.

Today in addition to candy, Halloween has traditions of witches, Jack-O-Lanterns and bobbing for apples.  Do you know how each of these came to be?

Witches go way back to the Middle Ages.  

Women would sit in front of a fireplace and go into a trance, chanting and meditating.  Back then, the superstitious people believed that these women had broomsticks and would fly out their chimneys and scare people with magical deeds.

Jack-O-Lanterns 

Would you believe these started as Jack-O-Turnips?  That’s right.  Back in Ireland, you could easily find turnips.  People would carve and light the turnips and put them in their windows.  The hope was that this would keep away evil spirits and welcome their dead.

If you fast forward to the United States, Irish immigrants could not easily find turnips but pumpkins were plentiful.  Jack-O-Turnip turned into Jack-O-Lantern using a pumpkin.

Bobbing for Apples

Do you believe that apples represent love interests?  Well, it appears that the Romans did!

The festival of Pomona was around November 1 and they bobbed for apples.  They believed that the first person, male or female to catch it with their teeth would marry in the coming year.

Additionally, you would peel an apple in one continuous and unbroken strip and throw it over your shoulder while you are spinning.  The fallen peel would reveal the first initial of the peeler’s true love.

Whether you are taking out children to trick or treat or giving out the candy, we hope you have a wonderful and joyful time.

Blindness

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be visually impaired or blind?

According to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, there are 1.1 billion people worldwide living with vision loss.  Of those people 43 million are actually blind.

For those of us with our sight it can be a terrifying thought to lose it. Perhaps you were born blind or it could be that you have developed an eye condition with age.  Either way if you cannot see you need to find alternative ways to manage your life.  Where do you begin?

Independence is very important to all of us and if you are blind it is no different.  The good news is that there are organizations in the US that can help.

The National Federation for the Blind is one group that can help guide. They are an advocacy group for the blind with many good resources. They can be found at https://nfb.org/

There are also a few non-profit organizations that train you so that you can learn to cook, go shopping and learn computers and smartphones.  One of these is in Colorado https://cocenter.org/ 

These are two organizations that can help you if you find you are starting to lose your sight or if you are actually blind and trying to manage your life.

Private Home Health Care knows that it is possible to live independently if you are blind and we herald those people.  We also encourage regular visits to your optometrist or ophthalmologist to have your eyes checked and to manage any symptoms.

#BlindnessAwarenessMonth

National Fire Prevention Month

Fires at home can be very frightening.  This month is National Fire Prevention Month.  This is because it is during the winter months that there is an uptick in fires.

According to FEMA, cooking was the biggest reason for fires in residential buildings in 2021.  This year there have actually been a total of 1, 671 deaths from fire.

It’s important for you to be aware of some of the important precautions you need to take in your house to try your best to avoid having a fire.  

• Check on your heating source.  No matter if it’s gas, wood or electric, be sure to have your source serviced at the beginning of the season.

• You want to be sure that there is nothing around or in front of your heat source.  There are some items that are easily flammable.

• If you like to burn candles you should never leave a burning candle unattended in a room.

• When cooking in the kitchen, it’s important for you to stay close by when there is food on the stove.  This is for both gas and electric stoves.

Additionally, it is recommended that you have a fire extinguisher available in your house.  These are easy to use and can be a life saver.  These are handy indoors and outdoors.

Here are some tips on how to use a fire extinguisher:

First, pull the pin out.

Make sure to aim low at the base of the fire.

Slowly squeeze the handle.

Make sure you sweep the nozzle on the handle side to side.

Private Home Health Care prays that you never have to deal with a fire.  We are hopeful that you will have the tools to manage one while you await help from fire fighters.

#NationalFirePreventionMonth

Nuts

Do you like nuts?  Today we are thinking about nuts and the very good health benefits we can gain.   We hope you are a fan but if not maybe we can convince you to become one!

When you choose to eat nuts you’ve chosen a great heart healthy snack. Studies have shown that regularly choosing nuts can improve many factors in heart health.

Your artery health will be improved.

You can reduce inflammation that can lead to heart disease.

Lowering your blood pressure is another benefit.

Your bad cholesterol or “LDL” gets lowered by adding them to your diet.

Furthermore, the best nuts to choose include walnuts, almonds, macadamia nuts and pecans.  They all contain healthy fat but even so they can add up in calories.  The amount you have is key.

As an adult you should try and eat about 1.5 ounces at a time and four to six servings in a week.  Raw or dry-roasted are best and unsalted.  Additionally, It’s best to avoid any nuts cooked in oil.

While you are enjoying your handful of nuts, you can think about the unsaturated fats, heart healthy Omega-3 fatty acids and fiber that’s traveling through your body.  All filled with goodness.

You can find nuts easily in the grocery store and hopefully it won’t be too overwhelming.

 Also, even though peanuts are a legume they too can be a good choice.

Private Home Health Care loves to munch on almonds for a snack.  Nuts really are like magic bullets aiding your body and keeping you on a healthy road.  Enjoy some nuts today!

World Osteoporosis Day

Osteoporosis.  

You and I have heard about health issues caused by osteoporosis, especially if we are women.

Osteoporosis is caused when the loss of old bone is more than the creation of new bone.  You’ll find this happens to women more than men.  It often occurs after menopause.

This bone loss and osteoporosis is a disease worldwide and can be found on every continent.

There are reports that it is most prevalent in the Middle East due to a lack of Vitamin D.

If you have osteoporosis a hip fracture is the most common accident.  This is true in all areas of the U.S and world.  You can break other bones as well, but the hip is most prevalent.

It is important to work with a doctor if you get diagnosed with osteoporosis.  There are exercises and dietary changes along with medications to help you.

Osteopenia can be a precursor to osteoporosis.  Osteopenia is when you have low bone density.  This is caused by less minerals in your bones. Those minerals prevent your bones from breaking.

Interestingly, your bone mass peaks in your early to mid-thirties.  Consequently, It’s very important for you to keep active by walking, jumping or running.  

It’s also key to be sure to have foods in your diet that are high in Vitamin D.  Foods like milk, cheese and yogurt.  Additionally, beans, broccoli, mushrooms and salmon are high in Vitamin D.
Private Home Health Care is very aware of the effects of osteoporosis. We hope that you check with your medical professional but if you are over the age of sixty-five a test is recommended every two years.

Global Dignity Day

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a South African Anglican bishop and theologian, said the following about dignity:

“The spirit of Ubuntu is very difficult to render into Western language. It speaks of the very essence of being human. You are generous, caring and compassionate. It means that my humanity is bound up in yours,” and embodies the ideas of community, connection, caring and kindness.” 

If you look up the meaning of Ubuntu it is an African word for humanity.  Does not every human being deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion?

On this day the hope is that each of us will treat those we meet with great caring and dignity.  You and I should also be aware of our own dignity. Each one of us should be treated with honor and respect.  

At this time when global wars show us the opposite of dignity it is more important than ever that we come together to spread caring and kindness in our communities.

Wherever you go in your day, acknowledge those around you.  Listen to them and give encouraging words if needed.

You can teach dignity to school-age children.  Starting with the young can begin a culture of caring and acceptance of people.  A person’s skin color, ethnicity or religion should not matter.  Everyone deserves honor and respect, from the very small to the very old.

How do you define dignity?  Do you feel honored and respected?  Do the people around you see kindness and compassion?

Private Home Health Care believes that all people should be treated with dignity.  By treating people in our community with honor and respect we hope to promote dignity for all.

#GlobalDignityDay

National Dictionary Day

Today is National Dictionary Day.  

This is National Dictionary Day to celebrate the birthday of Noah Webster.  Who you might ask?

For those of us old enough to remember old fashioned printed dictionaries, Noah Webster was the pioneer.

Noah was born in 1758 and he died at the age of 85 in 1843.  At the age of forty-eight, Noah began to publish his dictionaries.

In 1806, Noah published his first dictionary titled, A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language.  Realizing that a more comprehensive version was needed he began compiling an updated version called An American Dictionary of the English Language.

This took Noah twenty-seven years to complete.  This new version included the etymology of words, or linguistics of how words are connected across languages.  

To accomplish this, Noah learned six languages including Old English (Anglo-Saxon), German, Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, French, Hebrew, Arabic, and Sanskrit. 

His final version included seventy thousand words, with twelve thousand words never appearing in a dictionary before. You and I might call him a bit of an overachiever.  

An overachiever and a reformer?  Yes, a reforming of the spelling of words. 

Noah believed that American English should be separate from British English so he changed the spelling of words like color, from “colour” and “wagon” from “waggon” to name a couple.

Private Home Health Care understands that in today’s world finding a word and its definition is a digital click away on a phone or computer. We are, however, believers in the value of historical knowledge.  Thank you Noah Webster. 

#NationalDictionaryDay