Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month

June is the month of fresh fruits and vegetables.  For many of us, summer is approaching and with summer comes many delicious and healthy options.

Your body needs five servings a day of fresh fruit and vegetables to stay healthy.  This year the American Heart Association recommends focusing on adding color to your diet.

Fruits of different colors like bananas, apples, grapes, mangos, peaches, oranges, watermelon and plums add variety. Strawberries and blueberries in season are especially good.

Do you like vegetables?  There are many greens like kale, asparagus, spinach and broccoli that are full of nutrients and they are easy to cook.  

Then you have many varieties of squash available all season.  These are jam packed with goodness.  Try sampling spaghetti, butternut or acorn squash.  All different colors.

You can find so many options either at farmer’s markets or the grocery store.  Additionally look for a farm or coop in your area too. Seasonal vegetables are great.

Fruits and vegetables can lead you to healthy snacks.  Peanut butter and celery, carrot sticks, pears or peanut butter and apple.  If you are worried about sugar intake, pair a fruit with some almonds, nuts or a cheese stick.

You might think it sounds like a lot to try and get five servings of fruits and vegetables in a day but it is manageable.   Start off with oatmeal with fruit, a celery and peanut butter snack, two vegetables with dinner and some fruit for dessert.  That’s five servings!

Private Home Health Care finds great information at the American Heart Association.  Go to this site to learn more about all the good nutrition in fruits and vegetables https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/add-color/celebrate-fresh-fruit-and-vegetable-month. 

National Senior Health and Fitness Day

Private Home Health Care loves this National day.  The day is celebrated regularly on the last day of May. The goal is to help keep our seniors fit and healthy.

Are you a senior? Where are you living?  Do you have a senior center where you live or near you?

Currently there are many different places in addition to senior centers where seniors can meet and exercise and share ideas.  There are recreation centers, health clubs, and retirement communities.

At these locations, you can usually find exercise classes geared toward seniors.  You might also have available a weight room with some equipment and weights.  Often there is a person to help guide with the equipment available. 

You know how important it is for all of us but especially if you are a senior to eat a healthy diet. Participating in whatever exercise you are capable of is also key.

Today, try and have a walk or find a location or event that offers exercise options for you.  There are over 1,200 locations with possibilities.   Staying fit with exercise and good food will help you stay at your best.

Memorial Day

On this Memorial Day, Private Home Health Care honors the men and women of these United States who lost their lives in war.

The United States has been involved in 11 wars from 1775 to the present day.  Our country was born during the first war .  Over the years there have been over 1.3 million American men and women who lost their lives in wars, here and abroad.

As we gather for parades and cookouts, let us take a moment to remember all of the brave Americans who gave their lives .  

We respect and honor all of our veterans, past and present on this day.

#HonorOurVeterans

National Don’t Fry Day

This day highlights the need for all of us to be aware of the importance of being aware of harmful effects of overexposure to the sun..

You and I need the sun not only for vitamin D but for your mood and spirit too.  The sun can make you feel happy and energetic no matter your age.  You just need to be careful when you are enjoying it.

The Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that there are 9,500 people diagnosed with skin cancer each day.  

There are three basic skin cancers:

• Basal which is non-life threatening
• Squamous is the next level and also treatable.  
• Melanoma is the skin cancer to be concerned about as left untreated it can be deadly.

Preventive Measures.

Wherever you live and when there is sun it’s important for you and your family to use sunscreen  (SPF 30 or higher) each and every day.  Likewise, sun glasses are key to keeping your eyes safe.

Furthermore, clothing in summer months can act as good protection from the sun.  Dark or bright colors help to absorb the sun’s rays.  

Densely woven cloth like denim can mitigate your risks as well as unbleached cotton, shiny silks and polyesters.

You should find some shade when you are at a park or at the beach or outside for an extended period of time..

Between 1801 and 1804 both UV rays and melanoma were identified but it has taken us many years to learn about how strong and destructive the sun can be.

Today, you can find so much information about skin cancer and safety measures either through your doctor or online.  Teaching at a young age can turn around the statistics on skin cancer.

Private Home Health Care also believes in yearly check ups with a dermatologist because early detection is key to avoiding a more serious skin cancer.

Asparagus

Do you like asparagus?  It is a wonderfully tasty vegetable and it’s full of health benefits for you!

You’ll find that asparagus is low in calories, great for maintaining or losing weight.  It also supplies protein and fiber which helps with digestion.  

Additionally, asparagus contains vitamins A, C and K (K helps with blood clotting and bone health.) Wait, there’s more!  This green vegetable also fortifies our bodies with potassium, phosphorus, folate and small amounts of iron, zinc and riboflavin.

As you can see there are many health benefits to your body in addition to the taste.

Asparagus has been around for a long time.  Europeans brought it to the United States in 1655 but it was in diets long before that around the world.

In the United States you will find asparagus being grown mainly in three states:  California, Michigan and Washington.  It is labor-intensive to grow with each stock needing to be handpicked.

In order to buy the freshest asparagus you should look for plump and straight stocks.  The stems should not be dry, split or excessively woody.

Once you get the asparagus home, it’s important to store it so that it stays fresh.  It is recommended that you keep the rubber band on to keep the stocks together.  

Then you cut an inch or two off of each stem and place them in a jar or glass with an inch or two of cold water.  Finally, cover them loosely with a plastic bag and store them in the refrigerator.  The asparagus should last about a week.

Private Home Health Care loves the versatility of asparagus. We basically like to prepare it steamed, grilled, or baked with olive oil, lemon or parmesan cheese.  Mangiare!

National Vanilla Pudding Day

Today it’s all about sweetness.  National Vanilla Pudding Day.  A wonderfully delicious dessert.

Vanilla pudding wasn’t always sweet.  If you lived in the Middle ages your pudding would have included meat or fish.  Thankfully, pudding has evolved over the years into the sweet pudding we know today.

You can buy packaged vanilla puddings for a quick mix, instant without cooking or a “slower” version made with milk on the stove.

Likewise you can make your own vanilla pudding from scratch.  It’s easy to do.  You need milk, sugar, some cornstarch and a bit of time on the stove until it thickens.  Top it with whipped cream for a delectable treat.

Are you diabetic or watching your sugar intake?  Not a problem.  Use almond milk and monk fruit sweetener for a healthier choice.  

Monk Fruit is sweeter than sugar but without fructose and glucose so check the label for the sugar to monk fruit ratio. 

For an alternative to cornstarch you can use rice flour (2:1 ratio rice flour to cornstarch) or arrowroot powder (1:1 ratio).  It seems everyone can enjoy vanilla pudding.

Try some variations on vanilla pudding like Flan, Creme brulee, rice or tapioca pudding. It’s a nice way to finish a meal so enjoy some today!

Private Home Health Care follows the 17th century proverb that “The Proof of the Pudding is in the Eating” meaning you have to try out food to know if it’s good.  Bon Appetit!!

National EMS Week

This third week in May is set aside for all of the dedicated EMS workers around us.

The men and women who respond to medical emergencies sign up to help those who have smaller medical issues along with those in crisis.  

Basically, on any given day you or a loved one could need medical attention quickly and it is the emergency medical practitioner that will come to your aid.  

Every time you call 911, the police, firefighter department and ambulance arrive.

It’s those people in the ambulance that take over and do their best to stabilize the patient and get them to the closest medical facility.

The main jobs are medical technicians and paramedics. Requirements are strict.  Initially you need to be a minimum age of 18 and you must be BLS (Basic Life Support)-CPR certified.  

In addition, you must pass an EMT training course and two exams, one cognitive and the other psychomotor.

You must also have National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NMERT) certification and a driving license.

The EMS training lasts between 4 and 6 months depending on the state and you will learn how to use medical equipment and how to respond to different kinds of medical emergencies.

The life of the EMS practitioner is highly important, never dull and requires the ability to handle stressful situations.  It is very rewarding and gives a strong sense of community.

Private Home Health Care is so appreciative of the work of EMS practitioners.  We honor and respect them this week and we are thankful for the times they have responded to our needs.

Hypertension

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common diagnosis across the world.  It is basically when the blood flowing through your veins is more forceful than it should be. The force can damage the inner walls of your arteries and make your heart beat too hard.

A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120/80.

The top number is for systolic pressure.  This measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats.

The bottom is for diastolic pressure. This measures the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats.

Due to genetics, you are at a higher risk to develop hypertension if a family member has it.  High blood pressure affects both men and women and it can occur at any age.

Some other risk factors include:

• Excessive alcohol consumption
• High sodium diet
• Little or no physical activity
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Stress
• Insufficient sleep

Consequently, hypertension, if left untreated, can lead to a stroke as well as chronic kidney problems and of course other health problems.

The good news is that there are medications and treatments available to help. Likewise, we all need to do our part to lead a healthy lifestyle with a heart healthy diet and exercise.

Private Home Health Care knows that high blood pressure can appear without any symptoms.  We hope that you have health care professionals that can help you monitor this risky condition. 

#health

International Day of Light

Tomorrow is the International Day of Light.  You may wonder what this day is all about?

The sponsors say it is to promote an awareness for the appreciation of light.  Likewise, light plays a part in science, art and education and it has many natural benefits.

If you look up the definition for light it says, “something that makes vision possible.”  It also mentions electromagnetic radiation and another is “a particular illumination.”

All of these definitions are accurate.  Light truly helps you and I view and understand the world around us.

Light in the form of the sun can lift our feelings.  After many cloudy days you begin to miss that shining ball in the sky because there is not much light.  When the light comes back we can feel an almost immediate turnaround.

Additionally, light is not just the sun.  Other forms of light include gamma rays, infrared ways, ultraviolet light and gamma rays.  Our understanding of light has led us to scientific discoveries and technological progress.  Many uses we take for granted.

• Lights are in our homes and offices.
• UV lights treat certain illnesses and eliminate bacteria and viruses from the air and water.
• We transmit information by using the light found in optical fiber networks.
• We stay safe with headlights in our cars and traffic lights in our towns and cities.

As you can see we have learned a lot about light.  We must however continue to learn more so that we can make progress in our use in the future.

Private Home Health Care hopes you have a chance to share something involving light tomorrow.  You can watch great videos online that talk about the science of light.  You can also look around and find the sources of light in your world.

#InternationalDayOfLight

National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day

Fibromyalgia is a disorder that has been around for centuries but only named in 1981.  As late as 1990 it was defined as a musculoskeletal disease within the family of arthritis.

The word “myalgia” means pain within the muscles.  Fibro refers to fibrous tissues.  

Fibromyalgia is caused by abnormal sensory processing in the central nervous system.  If you have this disease you experience most commonly a sense of fatigue, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, irritable bowel syndrome and often headaches.

Your pain will be on both sides and the top and bottom of your body.  People all over the world suffer from this, all ages and either sex.  Reports do say however, that women are seven times more likely to come down with it.  It is chronic in nature.

Unfortunately you will not find a cure for Fibromyalgia but there are ways to manage the pain.  You should check with your medical professional to see what is best for you.  

There are medications, exercises, relaxation techniques and antidepressants.  Antidepressants can help you relieve pain and promote better sleep. 

An early sufferer of this disease is believed to be Florence Nightingale!  

Private Home Health Care wants to help to share awareness of this difficult disease so that you are aware that you are not alone and there is help available.

#healthcare