Celebrating Registered Dietitian Nutritionists!

Food is what bonds us together.

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists have the unique opportunity to do good in the world by improving people’s diets and educating them about a healthy lifestyle. On National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day tomorrow, we honor these unsung heroes who help keep us healthy and thriving. RDN’s live their mission every day of helping people change their diet, and change their life for the better. Though it may seem small, this is a significant step towards improving our world, and RDN’s are proud leaders of this tremendous movement.

National Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Day

Tomorrow is Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist Day! At Private Home Health Care, we are passionate about nutrition, and take this opportunity to celebrate. Registered Dietitians and Nutritionists are essential for our community, as they prioritize and educate people about nutrition and wellness.

Across the country, dedicated Registered Dietitian Nutritionists provide the most advanced and current nutrition information available to their patients. They are experts in food and nutrition whose training qualifies them to support a variety of patient needs. Whether they work in a hospital, school, long-term care facility, or sports facility, RDNs provide patient care that may include meal planning, nutritional counseling, assessments, tracking progress, and more. Outside their core patient care, RDNs also promote wellness in public forums as well.

As dedicated professionals, RDNs put patient care first and continue their education throughout their careers. Their commitment helps patients’ to meet their health goals or understand their disease better. Dieticians are crucial in helping keep the population healthy and preventing chronic disease. They may work in medical settings, such as a hospital, and help guide them to create the healthiest menu for both patients and staff.

National Pistachio Day

Get crackin’ – it’s National Pistachio Day! These creamy, green nuts are a favorite at Private Home Health Care! People have been munching on pistachios for over 9,000 years, and for good reason – they are delicious! Pistachios originated in southern Turkey and steadily spread throughout the world. Filled with nutrients, these fun-to-crack nuts are small but mighty.

Pistachios are one of the most vitamin B6-rich foods. Vitamin B6 is important for several bodily functions, including blood sugar regulation and the formation of hemoglobin, a molecule that carries oxygen in red blood cells. Additionally, pistachios are rich in potassium. Both of these nutrients support heart health!

Pistachios boast  high levels of fiber, which is key to healthy digestion. Fiber also helps with weight loss because it keeps you feeling fuller for longer. By design, pistachios have to be eaten slowly and mindfully. Due to the time it takes to crack open each nut, it allows your stomach to communicate with your brain to say when you are full. This helps you from overeating and weight loss efforts.    

Pistachios contain more antioxidants than most other seeds and nuts! Among nuts, pistachios have the highest content of lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which are very important antioxidants for eye health. They protect your eyes from damage caused by blue light and age-related macular degeneration.

This small green nut contains high levels of polyphenols and tocopherols may help protect against cancer and heart disease. Furthermore, the antioxidants in pistachios are very accessible in the stomach. Therefore, they are more likely to be absorbed during digestion and you can benefit fully from the nutrients pistachios offer. 

Today, celebrate this wonder-nut and eat pistachios! Pistachios are a delicious, convenient snack within themselves, and also add flavor and crunch to any sweet or savory dish!

Bananas

Today is National Banana Bread Day! Bananas are tasty, convenient, and a nutritional powerhouse!

Bananas are rich in fiber, which is great for digestive health. Due to the combination of both fiber and resistant starch, it feeds the ‘good’ gut bacteria and may help protect against colon cancer. These qualities may help aid weight loss because it is what makes bananas filling, despite a medium-sized banana having only 105 calories.

Bananas are great for heart health. They are high in potassium, and potassium-rich foods help manage blood pressure because they assist in ridding the body of more sodium when urinating. Potassium also relaxes the walls of your blood vessels, which aids in lowering blood pressure. In fact, studies have found that people who eat plenty of potassium have up to a 27% lower risk of heart disease. The soluble fiber in bananas also plays a role in heart health, as it can keep cholesterol in check and help ease inflammation. Additionally, bananas contain magnesium, which also helps control blood pressure, blood sugar, and helps to keep bones strong.

National Margarita Day

When life gives you limes, make margaritas! Today is National Margarita Day! This holiday is held in February as a reminder that one day we will see warmer temperatures. Nothing says summer like a cold, refreshing margarita. Tequila, sweetener (such as agave or triple sec), lime, lemon, and ice are the ingredients to this beloved cocktail.

Though the history is disputed, Margaritas originated in Mexico some time around 1938. The mixing of lime and sweetener with tequila was initially done to mask the taste of bad tequila. But, the drink ended up becoming a sensation and is enjoyed all over the world! People started salting the rims of the glass around the 50’s to make the flavors pop. Now you will find restaurants and bars offering updated versions, such as strawberry or jalapeno margaritas!

Cheers to National Margarita Day!

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Staff Education Week

Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Care Staff Education Week is February 14-21. Each year, the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners uses this week to focus on increasing sensitivity and respect for people diagnosed with dementia. During this week, front line staff learn communication techniques and new approaches for helping patients with activities of daily living. 

One of the goals of the week is to help coordinate and promote advancements in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and Dementia. While the number of dementia cases is rising, the outlook continues to improve as more methods for treating and improving the quality of life for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Thanks to widespread scientific studies, we are continually deepening our understanding about dementia and Alzheimer’s. This gives the medical and caregiving communities better tools to help care for those with the disease. 

At Private Home Health Care, we are proud to say that our caregivers receive top-level training for caring for dementia and Alzheimer’s clients. Decades of experience has allowed us to perfect an individually tailored experience for your loved ones. We regularly provide community training and workshops for public education about dementia and Alzheimer’s. From day one, PHHC’s motto has been ‘Compassion is at the Heart of Our Care’, and indeed compassion is the foundation for Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease Staff Care Education.