September is Healthy Aging Month. What do you associate with healthy aging? Healthy Aging Month is an annual observance raising national awareness around the health and well-being of older adults. Its goal is the prevention of age-related health problems, promotion of the positive aspects of aging well, and supporting lifestyle changes that promote a healthy, … Continued
When I was very young, I had a friend who frequently became faint and dizzy. Every time she mentioned these symptoms, she received delicious treats from her mother — apple juice, fruity candies, chocolate milk. I may have been a little jealous of this mysterious sickness that caused you to live with an abundance of … Continued
Defining good nutrition March is National Nutrition Month! What began in 1973 as a week-long campaign to create awareness around good nutrition and promote the profession of dietetics (the scientific field determining how nutrition affects overall health) is now a month-long celebration with a new theme every year. Celebrating multicultural nutrition in 2022 This year’s … Continued
Heart health — risk factors and preventive steps Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. The numbers are staggering. It causes one in every four American deaths — roughly 659,000 per year — and that’s just deaths. Cardiovascular disease, including heart disease, affects almost half of the U.S. adult population. What … Continued
Kick your caffeine dependency with coffee alternatives It’s 9:30 a.m. and you’re responding to emails. You’ve had your first cup or two of coffee, but you’re still not firing on all cylinders. Do you go for another cup? You slept poorly last night, so, yes, you decide. Caffeine is your ally. Until it’s not. In … Continued
Tips for tackling holiday stress If the holidays tend to leave you feeling stretched too thin, try to implement some strategies for reducing your holiday stress. You can find abundant advice about how to deal with holiday stress online. The American Heart Association, Johns Hopkins Medical, and Psychology Today are just a few of the … Continued
Travel tips for better sleep With the arrival of the holiday season comes plans to visit friends and family. And with visiting friends and family comes sleeping away from your own bed — a thought that fills many (including me) with dread. If you, like me, require a fine-tuned environment for sleep, here are a … Continued
What to eat for bone health So far in our November bone health series, we’ve covered osteoporosis and how you can help prevent it through supplements and exercise. Last, but not least: foods for bone health. As you may remember from our supplement focus, optimal bone health requires a diet rich in calcium, vitamin D, … Continued
How to exercise for bone health You know that nutrition plays a vital role in bone health, but did you know exercise does, too? According to the American College of Sports Medicine, resistance exercises and weight-bearing exercises are the best forms of exercise for your bones. Resistance, or strength training, challenges your muscles by working … Continued
You get your teeth cleaned regularly. You get your flu shot and annual physical exam. You probably have your vision checked annually as well. But, (if you’re a woman,) are you seeing your OB-GYN as regularly as you should? What is an OB-GYN? So what makes an OB-GYN different from your primary care physician? Women … Continued
World Food Day: October 16 World Food Day was founded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in 1945. Since that time, we celebrate the ways that communities come together to distribute, grow, and protect food sources. A core focus of World Food Day is around “food security”, meaning the availability of … Continued
What helps with pain from chemo and radiation? Cancer patients undergoing treatment often experience a host of difficult-to-manage side effects. Common radiation and chemotherapy side effects include fatigue and appetite loss; GI irritation like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea; hair loss; and pain, among others. This post offers some accessible options to help cancer treatment patients … Continued
Immune Health Begins in the Gut There’s no denying it: “immune health” is now a trending topic around the world. In the past, most of us would focus our “immune-boosting” efforts around cold and flu season, or perhaps before traveling. But between a global pandemic and a general desire to become healthier, people are wondering, … Continued
October 10 is World Mental Health Day Millions of Americans deal with mental health issues. About 1 in 5 Americans experience mental illness in a year, and 1 in twenty-five live with a serious mental illness — to say nothing of those who struggle with undiagnosed mental health concerns. This is why we’re observing World … Continued
“How can I boost my child’s immune system?” It’s back-to-school season, which means it’s time to prepare for cold and flu season. Here are our top tips for naturally boosting your kid’s immunity. Build stronger immunity by ensuring enough sleep Sleep is key for a healthy immune system. Studies show sleep and the circadian rhythm … Continued
What’s the difference between Alzheimer’s disease and dementia? Both Alzheimer’s Disease (often referred to as just Alzheimer’s, or, abbreviated as AD in the medical and scientific communities) and dementia are associated with memory loss, but they are different. You can think of it like this: Alzheimer’s is characterized by dementia, but not all dementia … Continued
You want to stay safe in the sun but you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of the choices in front of you: what sunscreen is best and safest to use? At the end of the day, it comes down to preference. Both chemical and mineral (also known as “physical”) sunscreens work and any sunscreen is better … Continued
Just like food and water, sleep is vital for everyday life. It plays a major role in our daily functioning and not getting enough can have a significant impact on both our physical and mental health. The average adult needs a minimum of seven hours of quality sleep each night to recharge the body and … Continued
Probably. It’s estimated that 35-61% of the United States adult population is deficient in Vitamin D. Vitamin D has a huge impact on the health and function of our cells and regulates over 200 of our genes! When we don’t get enough it impacts nearly every area of our body. Deficiency in Vitamin D can … Continued
As a pharmacist, it’s my job to educate patients on healthy lifestyles including diet and exercise habits that are consistent with minimizing future health risks. That being said, many times strict diets or fads can end up causing harmful weight swings and make it harder to stay on track. Therefore, when someone falls off the … Continued