Do you give sweets to your ‘sweetie’ on Valentine’s Day? According to the National Confectioners Association, 83% of Americans will give chocolate or candy on Valentine’s Day. Valentine’s Day is the third largest holiday for the consumption of chocolate, trailing behind Christmas and Easter (US Food Market Outlook 2018). 58 million pounds of chocolate will […]
June 15, 2017 by tammyohio June is moving right along which means the summer growing season is upon us. June is also National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month. It is a great time to focus on eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. June is a good time to remind ourselves to make half of our […]
June 15, 2017 by tammyohio June is moving right along which means the summer growing season is upon us. June is also National Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Month. It is a great time to focus on eating more fresh fruits and vegetables. June is a good time to remind ourselves to make half of our […]
The recently released 2010 Dietary Guidelines recommend that everyone, young or old, reduce sodium consumption. Although we need some sodium in our diet, almost everyone is consuming too much. Research has shown that the higher our sodium consumption the higher our blood pressure. Research also indicates that if we reduce our sodium intake the blood […]
You have a medical emergency and no one knows your history. They base your treatment on your vitals and condition – but maybe they don’t know the medications you take or a disease you may have. My sister, Debbie was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 4 years old. One of her biggest […]
Experts recommend that that one should try to get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity every week. Although physical activity offers many benefits, there are also inherent risks such as developing knee, hip, and joint problems. If you walk on a regular basis, you might consider purchasing a trekking pole or two. Trekking poles […]
Definition of nudge: to touch or push (someone or something) gently: to encourage (someone) to do something. ~Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Setting health and wellness goals are common when we start a new year. Many of us make New Year Resolutions. For several years, I’ve encouraged people to set a resolution or goal and go for it. […]
As the first day of school approaches, parents often start to think about routines for the new school year. Routines can change or need to be adjusted with a new school and sometimes reestablished after the lazy days of summer. Routines are an important part of a child’s development. Routines do more than just keep […]
Are you thinking of making some changes to your home to make it easier to live in as you age, but just don’t know where to start? Many changes associated with implementing Universal Design features are fairly minor, inexpensive, and require little effort (i.e., changing round door knobs to lever door handles). Other changes, however, […]
Feeling stressed? What are you eating? Most of us reach for comfort foods when we are stressed, such as cookies, cake, candy and other high sugar, low fiber foods. These foods are not good choices to prevent chronic inflammation from developing and affecting our body. High levels of chronic inflammation are believed to cause rheumatoid […]
Sometimes I don’t take showers on weekends, and when I backpack, I may not shower all week. I played in mud puddles, creeks, and bogs, and ponds growing up in Michigan. In Butler County, my lab and I kicked off the mud obstacle course every month. It was great fun! I worry that some kids […]
Adopting our dog, Wes, was one of the best things my husband and I could have done, both for us and for him. We saved Wes’ life, and he has made ours better and healthier. Research has shown that owning a dog can benefit the owner’s health. Wes is an Australian cattle dog, and he […]
When the lights go out do Not open your refrigerator or freezer. Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Plan ahead; keep an appliance thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer which can help you determine the safe zones! Make sure to look in at the zones of being safe for the […]
What does it mean to be prepared? I recently attended a presentation on disaster preparedness sponsored by our local FEMA agency, learning there what I need to do for my household. The FEMA agent explained that their role in an emergency is to coordinate emergency response for larger scale disasters, but they are counting on […]