January is National Soup Month

January is National Soup Month! Who doesn’t love soup?! It is the perfect dish for cold winter weather. There are so many flavors and choices, and it is easy to eat. Most soups freeze well so you can save some for later! We love soup for lunch at Private Home Care on cold days (especially lentil soup!).

Eating soup helps you feel fuller with fewer calories, and it is a great way to consume more vegetables. Grab a spoon and dig into some soup!

http://www.eatingwell.com/gallery/2061052/delicious-soups-anti-inflammatory-boost/?slide=e1d128ba-c2af-4443-a7f6-cd221618e531#e1d128ba-c2af-4443-a7f6-cd221618e531

National Give a Compliment Day!

Today is National Give a Compliment Day! Compliments make you and the person you are giving it to feel good! It can really make someone’s day and can even have a ‘butterfly effect’ where they pass a compliment forward. Receiving compliments can help someone feel noticed, validated, appreciated, or confident. Giving and receiving sincere compliments help encourage positive attitudes, and at Private Home Care we believe that the more positivity is spread around, the better!

Women’s Healthy Weight Day!

Women’s healthy weight day January 23 2020. Private Home Care is particularly passionate about women’s health. Any woman will tell you that it is harder for women to lose weight than men. This is because women store higher levels of fat in their body and men have higher levels of muscle. Women are typically smaller boned than men, so their caloric needs are lower, which means when eating at a restaurant it is easier for women to overeat. Women also experience more hormonal changes throughout the aging process. They have different needs at different times, which can be challenging to maintaining a healthy weight. 

Here are some steps you can take to maintain a healthy weight:

1. Consult with your doctor – they can help you set realistic goals and order screening tests that provide insight about your weight. 
2. Drink water regularly.
3. Get enough sleep!
4. Eat more fruits and veggies.
5. Avoid processed foods as much as you can.
6. Regular aerobic exercise – it can be walking or a zumba class at your gym, whichever you like best! It can be helpful to have a ‘workout buddy’ told hold each other accountable and make exercise more fun.

National Blood Donor Month Part 2

January is National Blood Donor Month!

There are many benefits of donating blood! Private Home Care encourages all who are able to donate, so donate blood at your local Red Cross today!

Reduces Risk of Disease – Donating blood can help those who eat foods rich in iron limit the build-up and oxidation of iron in the body, which has been linked to heart attacks, strokes and cancer. Studies have shown that regular blood donors are 88% less likely to suffer a heart attack.

Emotional Well Being – The satisfaction of knowing that you helped save a life.

Improves Blood Circulation – After donating your body creates more blood, which is distributed and circulated more evenly.

Mini Medical Exam – During the blood donor screening process your pulse, blood pressure, body temperature and hemoglobin levels are checked. Your blood is also tested for certain diseases. This provides great insight into your health because screening can detect problems or irregularities that could otherwise go undetected.

January is National Blood Donor Month! Part 1

Donating blood can save lives, and less than 10% of eligible donors do. January has been designated as National Blood Donor Month because it is usually a period of serious blood shortages. People tend to stop donating blood during the busy holidays or due to illness during cold and flu season. Blood donations may also be cancelled due to snow. 

Almost everyone knows someone who has required a blood transfusion due to illness or injury and how important it is. Blood donations from people with rare blood types are especially critical.    

Private Home Care urges you to give the gift of health and save a life by donating blood!

National Winnie the Pooh Day

“Pooh, how do you spell love?” – Piglet

“You don’t spell love Piglet, you feel it.” – Pooh

Today is National Winnie the Pooh Day! Private Home Care loves the timeless heartwarming character Pooh and his friends. Spread some kindness today inspired by Pooh Bear!

Research has shown that familiar music can engage those with Alzheimers and dementia, and so can reading classic childhood stories like Winnie the Pooh! https://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/many-alzheimers-patients-find-comfort-in-books/

Winnie the Pooh is named after a black bear in the London zoo during WWI whose name was Winnie. The author A.A. Milne’s son, Christopher Robin, loved visiting Winnie in the zoo, and wrote a book about it.

January is National Glaucoma Month

January is National Glaucoma Awareness Month

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that steal your vision, and can go undetected in early stages. Populations over sixty are at higher risk for glaucoma so make sure to get your eyes examined at least once a year! Private Home Care makes sure to always keep an eye on you and your loved ones 🙂

Like many other illnesses, you can reduce your risk or slow progression for glaucoma with a healthy diet.

https://www.brightfocus.org/glaucoma/article/there-connection-between-diet-and-glaucoma

Genes Are Not Destiny Pt 2

In Dr Neil Barnard’s TEDtalk a study indicated that you can literally ‘reverse the clock’ in your brain!

The hippocampus region of the brain (pictured above) is responsible for memory, and gradually shrinks in older adults as we age. The brain images of subjects who went for a brisk walk three times a week for a year showed that not only did their hippocampus stop shrinking, but gradually grew – as if time was going backwards! Those who walked also did substantially better on memory and cognitive tests. Yet another reason for Private Home Care to promote exercise!

Dr Neil’s exercise ‘prescription’ for making walking a habit:

Week 1: A 10 minute walk three times a week

Week 2: Add 5 minutes to each walk, for a 15 minute walk three times a week. Increase tempo.

Week 3: Add another 5 minutes to each walk, for a 20 minute walk three times a week, with the tempo increased.

Keep increasing until you have reached a 40 minute walk at a brisk pace three times a week!

TIP: Feel like you don’t have the time? Try splitting the walks up, perhaps 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes in the evening.

Harsh weather conditions? If the weather is bad, you can go to a health club. Or you can invest in a recumbent stationary bicycle with back support to ride at home. A good idea is to have the bike stationed next to a window – that way you can get the benefits of sunshine. You can even make it a part of your day and enjoy your morning coffee and read the newspaper while pedaling on a gentle setting!