Modern Health and Living December 2022

Editors Note

November has been a rollercoaster of warm and cold. The Autumn season has come to an end. Another college tour and I discovered how beautiful the snow is as it coats the ground. Walking through one of the most quaint cities our great state has to offer, I realize this is a start of a new chapter in life. Candle lit nature walks, small town shops and small talk with the locals in the city of Menonomie. How one door opens another. The best kick off to a holiday season is to discover a new location and enjoy something so precious, you didn’t even know it existed. The best gift of all. I get to share it with my son. The holiday season comes with so much meaning and this one will go in the books. The sparkling lights, the warm coco and maybe a new city I will regularly be visiting. This holiday will bring just a little bit more meaning to me this year. I have a college athlete and a man that will be coming home during break next year. Always be present.

It seems when I talk to my friends about their holiday plans, they seem to be so stressed out about what gift to get who and juggling time between families. My holiday is so simple. A tree, a meal (I love cooking, no stress there), and laying in front of the fireplace. So think of the happier things. Holidays are supposed to be about happiness, not stress. So this year, throw all things stressful out the window. I love our cover! Your holiday is your holiday. If pajamas and a tiny tree is what makes you feel good, just do it.

We have an excellent issue this month! Recipes, fitness, nutrition, natural remedies and much more. For our lovely senior readers, we once again have great articles on moving. 30 YEARS OF PUBLISHING!!!! I love every minute. For me, GRATITUDE WILL NEVER BE OVERATED. Thank you for reading. Have an amazing holiday season. Come what may...See you in 2023!

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Detox Before The Holidays

Do Detox Diets and Cleanses Work?

Are you thinking of trying a “detox” or cleanse? They claim to help you lose weight or rid your body of toxins. After a winter of holiday eating, they might seem like a way to kickstart better hab its in the new year. But are these trendy programs and products healthy or just a bunch of hype?

“Detoxes” aren’t all the same. Some involve fasting, followed by eating only certain foods. You may be limited to drinking only juices or liquids. Some include dietary supplements or herbs. They can involve cleansing the colon, or lower intestinal tract, with enemas and laxatives.

Are they effective? There aren’t many high-quality studies of detox programs and cleanses. In 2015, a team of experts concluded that results so far don’t sup port the use of detox diets for weight loss or removing toxins. Another group found that juicing and “detox” diets are prob ably just a short-term fix. There may be early weight loss because you start out consuming fewer calories. But detox di ets tend to lead to weight gain once you resume a normal diet.

Detox diets can also have risks. The FDA has charged several companies for selling detox/cleansing products that contain harmful ingredients. Talk with your health care provider if you’re plan ning on starting a detox diet or cleanse to make sure it’s safe.

“Detoxes” and “Cleanses”: What You Need To Know

What are “detoxes” and “cleanses”?

A variety of “detoxification” diets, regimens, and therapies—sometimes called “detoxes” or “cleanses”—have been suggested as ways to remove toxins from your body, lose weight, or promote health.

“Detoxification” programs may in volve a single process or a variety of ap proaches. These include:

Fasting

Drinking only juices or similar bever ages

Eating only certain foods

Using dietary supplements or other commercial products

Using herbs

Cleansing the colon (lower intestinal tract) with enemas, laxatives, or colon hydrotherapy (also called “colonic ir rigation” or “colonics”)

Reducing environmental exposures Using a sauna.

These programs may be advertised commercially, offered at health centers, or part of naturopathic treatment.

Some “detoxification” programs can be unsafe and falsely advertised.What does the research say about “detoxes” and “cleanses”?

There have been only a small number of studies on “detoxification” programs in people. While some have had positive results on weight and fat loss, insulin re sistance, and blood pressure, the studies themselves have been of low quality— with study design problems, few partici pants, or lack of peer review (evaluation by other experts to ensure quality).

A 2015 review concluded that there was no compelling research to support the use of “detox” diets for weight man agement or eliminating toxins from the body. A 2017 review said that juicing and “detox” diets can cause initial weight loss because of low intake of calories but that they tend to lead to weight gain once a person resumes a normal diet. There have been no studies on long-term ef fects of “detoxification” programs.

What about safety?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administra tion (FDA) and Federal Trade Commis sion (FTC) have taken action against several companies selling detox/cleans ing products because they (1) contained illegal, potentially harmful ingredients; (2) were marketed using false claims that they could treat serious diseases; or (3) in the case of medical devices used for colon cleansing, were marketed for

Allergies and Asthma Shouldn’t Prevent Comfort and Joy this Holiday Season

Your holidays need not be filled with sneezing, wheezing or itching

Starting to plan your celebrations with family and friends during the winter holi days? Keep allergy and asthma triggers top of mind as you map out what your holidays will look like this year.

“People put pressure on themselves to have picture-perfect holiday celebrations, but they don’t always take allergies and asthma into account,” says allergist Kath leen May, MD, president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immu nology (ACAAI).

“While the holidays bring much joy, some of the good times can be derailed by allergy and asthma flares. A few wellplaced precautions can keep you healthy and get your new year off to a great start as well.”

Keep these five tips from ACAAI in mind as you plan your holiday festivi ties:

That looks delicious! Does it con tain…? – Every winter holiday has its own special treats on offer. If you’re cel ebrating at someone else’s home, keep your family members with food allergies in mind. Alert your host well in advance about items your family needs to avoid. Request that the host mark containers so all those in attendance know what they’re eating.

Consider hosting at your house where you can be in control of ingredients. If it’s a potluck, let everyone involved know what the restrictions are.

Decorate with flair; Don’t cause flares – You may think it’s a myth, but some holiday decorations, including trees, can trigger allergy symptoms. Some people have contact skin allergies to terpene, found in the sap of trees, as well as in halant allergies to mold spores and pol len brought into the house by fresh trees and greenery. Consider washing your tree before you bring it inside to decorate. Be aware that if you re-use artificial trees

and decorations from year to year, de pending on how you store them, they can accumulate dust and mold. Take time to clean your annual decorations before they go up.

Be a bit of a Scrooge with hugs and kisses – We’re barely into cold and flu season, and flu-related hospitalizations are the highest in more than a decade for this point in the season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Because the flu can make asthma symptoms more severe, it’s vital that everyone in your house – including those with egg allergy – gets a flu vac cine. Fist bumps and “air kisses” work well for greeting family and friends.

Reduced stress can mean fewer symptoms – Some people assume holi days and stress go hand in hand, but increased stress can mean more nega tive health effects. Consider what helps decrease your stress load and deploy those activities to make the holidays go smoother. Exercise can boost your emotional balance, so keep up your ex ercise routine. If cold weather bothers your asthma, move your exercise rou tine indoors. Try yoga and meditation to keep you from feeling like your per sonal holiday candle is being burned at both ends.

Do “Cheers” bring “Oh dears?” – People who enjoy a cocktail now and then know they can feel the effects the next day. But did you know it’s possible to have an intolerance to alcohol that shows up as a stuffy nose, headache and/or flushed skin immediately after drinking? Not every symptom shows up – it can be one, or a combination. The reaction, while not an allergy, is most often seen after drinking red wine and alcohol that has color. The only way to prevent the reaction is to avoid alcohol. Fortunately, there are plenty of bubbly and festive non-alcoholic drinks that can be substituted.

*Understand the risks you face as well as the options available to increase your financial security

*Define your priorities and choose from a brad array of products that best meet your needs.

TRUE OR FALSE:

Give a Gift of Hope

Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement Plans provide the same financial protection.

False. Medicare Advantage plans often feature a low monthly premium, but you incur out-of-pocket expenses for doctor visits and medical procedures. Medicare supplement plans generally feature higher premiums but the expenses for deductibles and coinsurance are often covered.

A No-Cost Option Isn’t Always the Right Decision

Like a lot of people their age, an Iowa couple had their fair share of doctor’s visits. Their Medicare supplement plan paid all the bills and the each paid a little over $150 a month for the coverage. But when they were approached about a Medicare Advantage plan that did not have a monthly fee, they jumped at the opportunity to save money.

What they did not realize was that, as a couple, the new plan would cost them nearly $10,000 a year in co-pays and co-insurance, plus additional out-of-pocket cost for some of their prescriptions!

As recalled

Be Smart.

Among the cruelties of this devas tating disease, lupus symptoms often mimic those of other diseases, vary in frequency and intensity, and don’t often appear until a person’s teens or twenties, when their lives are already experienc ing a lot of change.

Understanding the nature and scope of the unique risks you face in retirement is the first step in planning a secure retirement. The next step is identifying the range of product solutions that best suit your needs.

For some people, a lupus diagnosis comes after years of symptoms, tests, and failed treatments for other issues. For Latish Reed, educator and LFA, WI Chapter board member, her lupus mani fested relatively suddenly:

There are virtually and endless number of complex product variations available, so choosing the right one(s) can be a challenging task. You can simplify the task by working with an insurance representative.

oping more strategies and programs to broaden our equity lens.” She currently sits on the committee of our Patient As sistance Fund, which allows LFA, WI Chapter to help lupus warriors improve their quality of life by providing funds for medical equipment, therapies, and other resources they may not otherwise have access to. She is also a great ambas sador, sharing her story and showing by example that you can be a lupus warrior and a successful student, professional, and mother.

Insurance representatives are helping individuals understand the life and health insurance needs of retirees. They are experienced in the range of products available, and familiar with the complex features which make each product unique. Because they represent multiple companies, they can recommend product solutions that are best tailored to your unique situation.

“After a few times at the gym, my wrists became extremely tender and stiff. I thought maybe it was because I was holding on to the treadmill too tight. After another week, I became extremely fatigued. I visited my primary doctor who said that he was not going to test me for rheumatoid arthritis because that would be a devastating diagnosis for such a young woman.”

TRUE OR FALSE:

Long-term care insurance is expensive.

False. Choosing the right daily benefit and benefit period can help reduce longterm care premiums to fit your budget. If you believe it fits your needs, another option would be to purchase short-term convalescent care insurance.

Making The Right Decision Based On The Right Information.

It took more symptoms, and a visit to the ER, for her to get some answers.

Having just watched a friend exhaust her retirement savings on long-term care for her husband, a woman in Colorado decided it was time to protect her savings from a similar fate. Long-term care insurance seemed like the right decision.

Although she was well aware of the advantages of long-term care insurance, she had always considered it beyond her budget. After visiting with an insurance representative, she learned that simply was not the case.

“I developed painful boils all over by body and started to run daily fevers. … One night, the symptoms became over whelming and I felt that if I didn’t get to an emergency room, something critical would happen. The attending ER doctor listened to the recent series of events and my symptoms and mentioned that I may have lupus. He ordered a battery of tests and told me to follow up with my prima ry doctor. Sure enough, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. At 27, I was sure my life was over.”

Latish faces her disease head on, and as her story shows, she didn’t do it alone. You can make a difference in the life of someone with lupus with a gift to the Lu pus Foundation of America, Wisconsin Chapter. Your support allows LFA, WI Chapter to reach more people with sup port, resources, and education through every aspect of their lupus journey. From establishing relationships with medical providers and clinics, which keeps lupus on the radar of providers, to educational programming for medical students and the public, to support groups and oneon-one counseling, LFA, WI Chapter couldn’t reach as many people without your help.

The representative explained there are several ways to customize long-term care policies to meet her monthly budget requirements. She adopted some of his suggestions and is now enjoying protection at monthly premium that fits her needs.

This is an example for illustrative purposes, including solution s that enable you to remain in your own home while receiving care.

Be Secure.

If you are like many individuals nearing, or in, retirement you are bombarded by mail solicitations for Medicare related Insurance. These companies blanket thousands of individuals with the same product offering. They have not met with you and they do not understand your needs.

Fortunately for Latish, she had a sym pathetic ally in her boss, who had a close friend with lupus.

When you give to LFA, WI Chapter, ninety percent of your donation stays in Wisconsin to help the lupus warriors in your communities. The remaining ten percent supports research on the nation al level, increasing our understanding of lupus and laying the groundwork for more and better therapies and treatments.

Insurance representatives should meet with you one-to-one to understand your situation, needs and priorities. You should receive a thorough assessment of your current insurance plans and find out what programs may be best for you.

“He supported me as I adjusted to the new medications. Once I was stabi lized, he even offered me a promotion to assistant principal. He believed that I could get better so I believed too. This appointment led to an extensive career as an educator. I went on to receive my PhD from the University of WisconsinMadison in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis. I have been an assistant professor of school leadership at two universities and served as a school dis trict equity leader. Overall, my health is stable today and I live a relatively active life as a mom and professional.”

For more information contact American Republic Insurance at (262) 523-1440 and visit www.americanrepublic.com

Today, Latish serves on the LFA, WI Chapter board of directors, where her goal is to “support the board in devel

You donation ensures that the next time a healthy, 27-year-old teacher starts ex periencing pain and fatigue, her health care provider asks the right questions and tests for lupus. When that diagnosis is made, your support means that when she calls the LFA, WI Chapter for infor mation, she is provided with updated, accurate information. With that informa tion, she can find a health care team, join a support group, and learn more about her disease. And with that support, she can impact others in her community by sharing her story.

Give the gift of hope this holiday sea son with a donation to the Lupus Foun dation of America, Wisconsin Chapter. Visit www.lupuswi.org for more infor mation, and make difference in the lives of the lupus warriors in your life and community

by Joe and Ruthanne Heintz of West Des Moines, Iowa.

today!

No one expects to be diagnosed with a chronic, incurable disease like lupus. Despite nearly 0,000 people in Wisconsin alone battling their lupus every day, when they begin to experience common symptoms like fatigue, joint pain, or skin rashes, they may not have even heard of lupus

Keep Your Skin Bright And Glowing This Winter

By Sarah Stephan, Esthetician, Avani Spa at The Abbey Resort

Living in the Midwest it is no secret that we have extremes of weather between seasons and even from one day to the next. As the air becomes dry and cool, mois ture on the skin evaporates more quickly and the bitter winds can damage skin. For these reasons, most people need to treat their skin differently during the harsh winter months so start with these five practical tips to keep yourskin healthy, glowing and bright throughout the long winter season!

1) Stay ahead of the damage

Once the heat goes on, the air dries out and it becomes even more important to stick to a regular skincare routine to prevent the damaging effects of the winter air, both indoors and outside.

Lighter moisturizers used during the humid summer months no longer provide enough moisture to combat the dryness, so a more hydrating product is recommend ed for most people. Exfoliation is also important, as it removes dead skin cells that prevent moisturizing products from being absorbed into the skin. Consider a mild exfoliant like an enzyme peel during the winter especially if your skin is sensitive to the cold. Keep your showers to ten minutes or less, use warm – not hot – water, and apply body lotion on damp skin immediately after the shower to prevent product waste and help absorption. Other preventative measures include using a mild laundry detergent, layering winter materials like wool with cotton, and making an effort not

tolick your lips which causes them to dry and chap. By staying ahead of the damag ing effects of the winter air, you’ll be ready to greet the new year with a bright and glowing complexion.

2) Easy access

Staying ahead of the damage is so much easier when you have what you need within arm’s reach, so do yourself a favor and stock up on a few favorites. For ex ample, by tossing a moisturizing lip balm and travel-sized hand cream in both your purse and desk drawer, you’ll never be without the products you need to keep your skin healthy and happy.

) Put your Zzzs to work Keep an intensively hydrating body cream beside your bed so you can easily ap ply it to your hands and feet before going to sleep. Products with shea butter – a fat extracted from the nut of the African Shea Tree – are great for nighttime as they stay on the skin and work their magic all night long. It is also helpful to keep a humidifier in the bedroom once the heat is turned on to help night creams be absorbed into the skin rather than drying up.

4) Forecast: Cold and sunny!

It is important not to forget about the sun even on the most bitterly cold days. Although our bodies are bundled up for outdoor adventures like skiing and sledding, using a daily sunscreen during the winter is still necessary because reflection from snow can intensify the sun’s damaging rays. Make sure to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 25 and apply it to any exposed skin, most importantly the sensitive skin on your face.

) Treat yourself

There is no better time of the year to give your skin some TLC than during the winter. At Avani Spa, we offer several treatments that are especially beneficial during the dry and cold winter months. The Silk Bath and Wrap Treatment is a wonderful choice for this time of the year because it is intensively hydrating, re-mineralizing, and it helps boost a lowered immune system. If your face is especially sensitive, the Custom Facial can be adapt ed with a variety of treatments such as the Cocoon Mask which calms irritated skin, the Velvety Soothing Cream which relieves redness, and the Thirst Relief Rehydrating Mask which provides concentrated hy dration. At your facial appointment, your esthetician will examine your skin and recommend a treatment customized precisely to your skin’s winter needs.

Avani Spa at The Abbey Resort on the shores of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin welcomes day spa, leisure, and group visitors. For more information, visit http://www.theab beyresort.com/spa or call 800-709-1323 to speak with a representative.

Holiday Safety Tips Help Keep the Twinkle in Family Members’ Eyes

By Cheryl L. Dejewski

In the much-loved movie “A Christ mas Story,” Ralphie sets out to convince the world that a Red Ryder BB gun is the perfect gift.

“You’ll shoot your eye out!” was the response he received from his parents, teacher and even Santa Claus himself. It’s one of the funniest and most memorable quotes from this Christmas classic be cause we’ve all heard it or a similar “You could lose an eye” comment throughout our childhood. Unfortunately, however, what may seem to be an annoying or sil ly warning becomes a fateful reality for too many people.

Toys, including some seemingly in nocuous ones, and sporting equipment are responsible for thousands of eye injuries to children every year. But an amazing 90 percent of these injuries were preventable. That’s why ophthal mologists across the country are urging Americans to honor December as “Safe Toys and Celebrations Month.”

“Safety should be the top priority on holiday shopping lists for children in order to help prevent a joyous celebra tion from turning into a tragic occasion,” states Brett Rhode, MD, senior partner at Eye Care Specialists ophthalmology practice. “Keep in mind a child’s ability rather than just age when searching for the perfect gift.”

As an example, a one-year-old gen erally likes to lug, dump, push, pull, pile, knock down, climb, empty and fill. Suggested ideas for toys therefore in clude push-and-pull objects, blocks with rounded corners, and stable ride-ons with four low wheels. Sturdy cloth or plastic books are recommended to stimulate the child’s interest in identifying objects by pointing. Safety considerations include buying objects that are strong enough for the child to stand on or in, and avoiding anything with sharp points, small pieces or parts that can pinch or trap fingers, toes and hair.

With older children, your gift-buying habits should also be a careful balance between a child’s wants and his or her safety needs and those of his siblings.

Children often fill their wish lists with highly advertised, but potentially danger ous items. For example, projectile toys, chemistry sets, dart games, bows and arrows, tools and electrical toys should be avoided for any child under the age of 12, unless the item will be used under adult supervision. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that bicycles, balloons, swings, BB and pel let guns, sports equipment, flying toys, crayons and chalk, science sets, and cos metic kits are the toys most likely to be involved in eye injuries.

“If you are giving sports equipment, you should consider including protective eyewear with polycarbonate lenses with the gift,” says Rhode, who is also Head of Ophthalmology at a Milwaukee-area medical center. “About 30,000 sports-re lated eye injuries occur every year, and the majority of those injured are children and adolescents. However, 90 percent of these injuries could have been avoided if the victim had worn protective eye wear.”

Toys aren’t the only injury-causing culprits during the holidays. Corneal abrasions from pine needles are another common eye injury during the holidays. Daniel Ferguson, MD, ophthalmologist and father of two children, says, “It’s especially important to keep an eye on tiny visitors who are apt to be crawling around and under the tree while opening or playing with their presents. Mom and Dad should also be careful when setting up and decorating the tree.”

“If you or a family member acciden tally pokes or scratches an eye with a tree branch, you should seek immediate medical treatment. This is to make sure that no further injury has occurred to other parts of the eye and to prevent seri ous infection from occurring in the area of the scratch,” adds Daniel Paskowitz, MD, PhD, a local eye surgeon.

Ophthalmologist Michael Raciti, MD, points out that eye injuries can come from more than just inanimate objects.

MERCURY-FREE FLU SHOTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

Question: I’m an avid runner and I’ve had sore knees recently. I was told that running on a treadmill or on grass might help with the pain. Is this true?

Answer: This is the prevailing theory, but unfortunately, this is not the case. Many people think that running on a slightly softer surface will help with knee pain, and that seems to make sense. But it’s the force of your overall body mass on your joints that is causing the problem, so running on a treadmill vs. pavement really doesn’t matter. Your best bet would be to change up your modes of exercise and incorporate a little more biking, elliptical, or rowing into your training. This will give your knees some much-needed rest, and then hopefully you can continue to run with little to no pain. Remember, if the pain gets too severe, you may want to take some time off

and/ or go see a sports physician to see if the pain is stemming from a more serious injury.

Running for at least 10 minutes a day can significantly lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Runners lower their chances of dying from heart disease by half. It also lowers your resting heart rate, the number of times your heart beats per minute when you’re at rest.

Question: I’ve been having a tough time with my energy levels for my am workouts. I was thinking coffee might help with this, but it seems like it’s always getting mixed reviews. Any cause for concern before a workout?

Answer: First things first. If you’re experiencing low energy levels, and you’re not necessarily focused on fat loss, try having a small breakfast, or even a bar or a shake, before you go workout. This will definitely provide the much-needed energy you’re looking for. However, if you’re trying to drop body fat and you’d like to avoid calories that early in the morning, coffee is an excellent alternative. The caffeine in coffee is considered a central nervous system stimulant and will provide a boost of energy, though the effect varies greatly among individuals. Caffeine is actually considered an ergogenic aid, meaning it enhances physical performance. In the right amounts, caffeine has been shown to reduce the perception of effort during a workout, which means your workout will seem easier than it actually is. Not bad for a little cup o’ joe, huh? Keep in mind, coffee does increase heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure, and it can make you a bit jittery if you’re a newbie. Luckily, these effects are relatively mild, especially for healthy folks. In fact, much of the research these days is focused on the potential health benefits of coffee, rather than any health risks.

Question: I keep hearing that CrossFit workouts are unsafe. What should I be aware of if I decide to try CrossFit?

Answer: The possibility of injury is an increased risk with participation in any type of exercise, especially a high-intensity fitness regimen like CrossFit. A CrossFit workout combines strength training, explosive plyometrics, speed training, Olympic and power-style weight lifting, kettlebell work, body weight exercises, and endurance exercises. Training the CrossFit way requires you to workout 3-5 times per week at a very intense pace. Most workouts are performed in a circuit style, moving from one exercise to another with little to no rest. It’s best to have a sufficient strength base before starting CrossFit. If you are new to Olympic weight lifting and plyometric exercises, don’t worry as each CrossFit affiliate has a one-month initiation course, which newcomers must complete to learn proper training technique for all of the major exercises performed in the CrossFit program (or, they SHOULD and you should participate for best results). Ask about credentials and references for any affiliate coaches and personal trainers who will be responsible for teaching you the essential CrossFit exercises. You’ll want a coach that is trained in sports and conditioning and has a degree in exercise science or related field of study.

subtle and come and go in the early stages. This means that symptoms may not be noticed or taken seriously by family and friends Some signs that there may be problems:

*Illness, medication interactions or depression are some conditions that mimic symptoms of dementia. Only a doctor can diagnosis if it is dementia or another condition. Having a full medical workup can treat a medical condition or determine if it is dementia.

WHAT KINDS OF TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR COGNITIVE DECLINE?

There is currently no cure for dementia but there are non-drug and drug treatments which can help with slowing the symptoms of dementia.

Brain stimulation can help slow the progression, especially early in the disease. Engaging in activities that are creative or make a person think such as word games, matching, or learning new information are valuable as long as the person doesn’t get frustrated because it is too difficult for them.

Family gatherings for the holidays offer a great opportunity to check in on the health and well-being of senior loved ones. It’s an opportunity to address any chang es – physical or mental – that may mean they need assistance.

Socialization is important to remain engaged. Isolation can be decreased with visits from family and friends, attending events, going to senior centers, or connecting with others through Facebook or Skype.

According to recently-conducted research, 70 percent of family conversations about aging issues don’t occur until they are prompted by a health crisis or other emergency – when people tend to make rash decisions. Don’t let this happen to you.

Exercising 30 minutes a day 5 times a week, eating a healthy diet, and managing chronic diseases such as diabetes or high blood pressure can help slow the progression.

Available now for the holiday season, an Action Plan for Successful Aging is like a guidebook for some of the look-and-see signs that your senior might be having a problem, or that changes to their lifestyle might be necessary.

Decrease stress with familiar routines and environments. Stress doesn’t cause dementia, but can worsen the symptoms.

A few signs to look for:

· Depression. If you see any hints of irritability, sadness or sleep difficulties, these could be signs of depression. Depression can be a problem for seniors and should be checked out by a doctor or mental health care professional if concerns exist.

Medication may help improve mental function, mood, or behavior. For some, the drugs donepezil (Aricept), tacrine (Cognex), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne) are helpful to delay some of the symptoms of mild to moderate dementia. Memantine (Namenda), may be prescribed for treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer’s Disease. Antidepressants, antianxiety, and antipsychotics may be prescribed to treat depression, excessive anxiety, or hallucinations.

Pain. Does your mother now pull up a stool by the sink to peel the potatoes? Does she wince in pain when she bends down? If you notice any red flags, gently ask her if everything is alright. Even if she tries to pretend she’s managing fine, consider help ing her make a doctor’s appointment “just to be sure.”

· Memory. Does your father have trouble recalling events from earlier in the day? Has he told you the same story over and over? You may want to keep a list of concerns to bring up with his primary care physician.

· Social Engagement. Ask your mother to tell you about her friends. Social seniors generally have a healthier and more optimistic out look on life. If she doesn’t have a strong social network, look into community activities that she may enjoy.

· Safety. If your father has dif ficulty walking, make sure he has a cane, walker or the proper sup port; remove throw rugs or other potential tripping hazards; and look into installing grab bars and no-slip strips where needed.

· Housekeeping. As seniors ex perience declining health, they may have more trouble keeping up with the housework. If you notice the house looks more unkempt than usual, consider senior care services, like Home Instead, that include light housekeeping.

For more information about things to watch out for this holiday season, or to receive a printed copy of our Action Plan for Successful Aging contact Home Instead Senior Care of Milwaukee at 414-8825464.

*Uncharacteristic behaviors: being sad all the time, rude, anxious, loss of interest

Best Appetizers for Entertaining During the Holiday Season

If you are hosting a party this holiday season, you may be looking for appetizer in spiration as you plan your menu. Appetizers are a great way to hold over your guests before you serve the main entree. We’ve found three savory appetizers that you can serve at your next event that will have your guests asking for the recipes. Not only do they taste delicious, but they can also be super simple to make.

When deciding what dishes you will make for your guests, consider trying some or all of these three tasty appetizers.

Garlic Pull-Apart Bread

Balsamic-Ginger Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

Honey-Ginger Chicken Bites

Many of these recipes call for ginger or garlic. While ginger and garlic both taste great, they also provide many health benefits. Ginger helps with indigestion, and can improve your brain function while garlic supports a healthy immune system, helps reduce cholesterol levels, and can be used to detox your body, which can be quite helpful during the busy holiday season. Plus, incorporating either garlic or ginger

into your recipes just makes everything taste that much more delicious. Now that we’ve highlighted some of the main ingredients of these scrumptious appetizers, let’s get into how you can make them.

Garlic Pull-Apart Bread

Garlic Pull-Apart Bread is a simple and quick recipe to make that all your guests will enjoy. This appetizer is so tasty that you may have to make more than one so that all of your guests will have a chance to taste it before it’s gone! With warm bread and melted cheese, this dish is bound to be a crowd favorite.

Ingredients You Will Need for Garlic Pull-Apart Bread:

One 16 oz loaf of sourdough bread

1 ½ cups of mozzarella cheese

1 ½ tsp of Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic

1 stick of butter, melted

Optional additions:

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp rosemary

1 tbsp parsley

Cooking Instructions:

Once you have gathered all the ingredients to make your garlic pull-apart bread, it is time to cook it! To make this appetizer, follow these instructions: Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Next, cut lines into your bread to form a grid. Ensure your cuts don’t go all the way through the bread so all of your added ingredients won’t seep out the bottom.

Lay the loaf aside and mix your Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic, melted butter, and your optional Italian seasoning, rosemary, and parsley in a small bowl.

Pour your mixture in the cuts in the bread until the whole loaf is coated.

Then, tuck your mozzarella cheese into the cuts of the bread until all sections are stuffed.

Lastly, cover your bread with foil and put it in the oven. Allow it to cook covered for ten minutes and then remove the foil. Cook, uncovered for 10 additional minutes and then your appetizer is ready to serve!

Balsamic-Ginger Grilled Portobello Mushrooms

Balsamic-Ginger Grilled Portobello Mushrooms are the perfect appetizer to serve to mushroom lovers. One advantage when cooking with mushrooms is that they can soak up the flavors of whatever you add to them. In this case, you will be adding balsamic vinegar and ginger.

Ingredients You Will Need for Balsamic-Ginger Grilled Portobello Mushrooms: ½ cup balsamic vinegar

The Only Type of Red Meat Heart Health Experts Cook at Home

By Caroline Thomason, RD, LDN, CDCES Hands of chef slicing grass-fed steak

Grass-fed meat can be good for your heart because it has a better fat profile than conventional meat.

With the rise of plant-forward diets, eating conventionally raised animals has been demonized in recent years. Usually, the argument is made against meat and in favor of a plant-based lifestyle. But there is a third option that isn’t often discussed: Grassfed meat.

The health benefits of grass-fed meat make it a smart menu choice — that is, if you eat meat and your budget allows for it. Here, health experts explain why grassfed meat is good for you and how to include it in your eating plan.

What Is Grass-Fed Meat?

Grass-fed meat includes mostly beef, lamb and goat.

Conventional meat is typically raised on an industrial farm called a Concentrat ed Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO), according to the Environmental Protection Agency. CAFOs often have crowded living conditions, and the animals are fed a diet of corn, soy, wheat and other subsidized commodities.

They may be given antibiotics and to prevent and treat infections as well as hor mones to accelerate growth, according to the National Association of Local Boards of Health. (FYI, growth hormones are ‌not‌ approved for use in dairy cows, veal calves, pigs or poultry, per the FDA.)

In contrast, grass-fed beef and other animals are raised in a natural environment: On a pasture. The broader term “pasture-raised meat” can refer to chickens, eggs and pork as well as red meat. Pasture-raised means that the animals were raised in their natural environment with plenty of access to the outdoors. But they may or may not have been fed some grain or other feed and they may or may not have been given antibiotics and growth hormones throughout their life.

There are a few important classifications of beef that can be helpful to learn when reading labels:

Grass-fed: Grass-fed means that the animal ate grass or forage in their lifetime with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning, according to the USDA. Fed eral guidelines state that grass-fed animals must forage from grass, legumes, and/or cereal grain crops. Grass-fed animals cannot feed on grain products and must have constant access to the pasture throughout their lives.

Grain-fed: Conventional beef production is an ever-changing industry that also lacks clearly defined parameters, according to the South Dakota State University Ex tension. Conventionally raised beef includes cows primarily on pasture through the weaning phase. They’re fed grains and other foods for the remainder of their lives.

Certified Organic: Designated by the Certified Organic label, animal products with this label have not been given any antibiotics or hormones. Certified Organic animals can be either grass-fed or grain-finished as long as the grain is 100 percent organic, according to USDA standards.

Why Grass-Fed Beef Is So Good for You

Red meat in general has quite a few health benefits. One 4-ounce serving of cooked grass-fed ground beef contains the following, according to the USDA:

Calories: 190

Total fat: 11 g

Saturated fat: 4.5 g

Cholesterol: 69.4 mg

Sodium: 69.4 mg

Total carbs: 0 g

Protein: 23 g

1. It’s Nutrient Dense

A March 2010 Nutrition Journal review suggests grass-fed beef contains more

What a difference a pie makes!

A holiday isn’t just another day when it comes to celebrating with family and friends. From all-natural meats to local organic produce plus hard to find items and our own made-from-scratch pies... you can’t beat the hometown original!

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Health Benefits of Spices Used in Holiday Recipes

The benefits of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg include reduced inflammation and lowered cholesterol.

The holiday season is an excellent time for cozying up and baking or cooking some classic recipes! Chances are, many of your holiday favorites include warm spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and more. But did you know there are additional health benefits of spices?

Some spices, like the ones you’ll commonly find in holiday recipes, are shown to have significant health benefits, including reducing inflammation, pain relief, high levels of antioxidants, and more. Of course, these health benefits shouldn’t replace medication or advice given by your health professional, but it’s always fun to know your favorite holiday cookie may include a little extra health boost!

Learn about the health benefits of spices that are already used in many holiday dishes, including: Let’s dig in to these health benefits of spices you’ll likely be using in your cooking

this holiday season!

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is a great spice used in both sweet and savory recipes. Not only is it a fall and winter favorite of many, but it also has some great health benefits! Cinnamon has anti-inflammatory properties that can boost heart health, may help reduce blood sugar levels, and can even help lower cholesterol.

Some fun ways to add more cinnamon to your diet include adding a sprinkle to cof fee, baking some cinnamon apples, and using it on baked sweet potatoes this holiday season.

Ginger

Besides adding zing to many a holiday recipe, ginger is a staple in many Asian, Indian, and Caribbean dishes and can even be used in juices and smoothies! Ginger contains some great nutrients like vitamin C, magnesium, and potassium.

In addition, it can help with inflammatory-related pain relief, improves blood sug ar regulation, reduces nausea, and may help lower cholesterol. Some fun ways to add more ginger these holidays are to make ginger tea, add a little to your morning smoothie, or toss it into a stir fry.

Cloves

Cloves are a wonderful spice used in gingerbread cookies and many recipes in In dian cuisine. Cloves are high in antioxidants, may improve liver health, help regulate blood sugar, and promote bone health. They can be added to many holiday dishes like desserts, curries, or chutneys to bring a warm flavor.

Nutmeg

Nutmeg is used in many desserts this time of year to provide a warm, slightly nutty flavor. Nutmeg also contains antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, may benefit heart health, and could even boost mood! It can be paired with other spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, or it can be used on its own. Take advantage of the cozy flavor and health benefits by adding nutmeg to delicious warm beverages like apple cider, hot chocolate, and chai.

Allspice

Allspice is a spicy, slightly sweet flavor that is used in some savory foods and can even be brewed as a tea! It can help reduce inflammation, be used to treat nausea, relieve pain, and can even be used to prevent infection. Some ways to add more all spice to your holiday recipes are to add it to gingerbread for an extra kick, sprinkle ground allspice on roasted vegetables, or mix it up and make a traditional Jamaican jerk chicken for your holiday gathering.

Bring some extra goodness to the holidays knowing these health benefits of spices used in holiday recipes. For more recipes and wellness tips, check out the www.cap tel.com

Redefining Health

Kindness As A Way Of Being

By Kalpana (Rose) M. Kumar, M.D.

“Namaskar”, said the 6-foot Sikh man stand ing outside the front door of our hotel. He was wearing tra ditional Indian clothes and a turban, as he bowed his head to me with his hands folded in a prayer position. He was greeting me, a total stranger this way, because “Guest is god”. The sincere kindness that per meated from his heart into mine was palpable and brought tears to my eyes. He was as masculine as they come, yet what I felt from him in that moment was a purity of kindness and respect, as if from a mother. It was a sort of kindness that I rarely feel from people in the West and deeply miss. My two weeks in India last month were infused with a depth of kindness towards me, which I also ob served between people interacting with one another. Being kind is a way of life there. It permeates relationships. In the East, beauty, love, reciprocity, commu nity and relatedness are valued as a way of life.

In contrast, in the West, ‘acts of kind ness’ are a special way to behave to wards another. In fact, the book, “Ran dom Acts of Kindness’ was most popular in the 90’s. Its success ‘not only inspired many individuals, but also led Congress to declare a National Random Acts of Kindness Week in February 1995’. It is difficult to comprehend that kindness needs to be a learned or a designated way to behave. That it can actually be learned from a book. Is this because being kind is not the norm? In our society, I feel it is seen as something we ‘do’ rather than ‘are’. The lack of kindness is normal ized in our society. We see this ampli fied in corporations and sadly also in health care, where being kind to patients is seen as a weakness, or ‘touchy feely’. In the East, being kind to one another is synonymous with living from Atma or

Soul. Jung termed the Soul or the Self, the deeper, wiser, more divine aspect of who we are that does not have the needs of the Ego. It is our essence, our True Nature. Living from the Self in the East is termed, living from ‘dharma’. Dhar ma implies we live from Soul, behaving towards others with empathy and kind ness.

When we live without relatedness, we cannot access empathy. In the East, re lationship is a way to access our Soul. It is a way of realizing our True Nature, also called, Self-realization. If we do not value relatedness, we cannot align with our True Nature. This leads to ‘ad harma’, the opposite of dharma and re sults in living from a way where ‘might is right’ or ‘survival of the fittest’, which shuts down our empathy for each other. What is normalized in western society and corporations would be termed ad harma in the East, because of how much relatedness is valued.

When we live from a place of dhar ma, we live from Soul, from empathy and kindness. Our cultural collective is deficient in these qualities because of what we have normalized. Could it be that our foundational platform with each other has not yet evolved to value relat edness and relationship? Could it be that we have valued materialism in favor of relationships and have disconnected our selves from each other in the process? Or could it be that we consider technol ogy such email and texting as a conve nient substitute for real interaction? We must know by now that this is merely a cosmetic substitute for experiencing the essence of relationship. It is impossible to be in each other’s presence or fully present with each other through text and email communication alone.

We must become aware of the unin tended consequence of how we use tech nology and there can be no substitute for human to human interaction.

With hands-on myofascial release, breathwork and exercise for chronic pain

Michele Rozansky is a physical therapist and owner of Orlanu Thera pies-The Myofascial Release Center of Mil waukee since 1997. Her practice specializes in helping people living with chronic pain. Michele uses a combination of TRA DITIONAL and HOLISTIC treatment techniques that partner with the body. Michele also teaches continuing educa tion classes to licensed physical and oc cupational therapists.

Below, Michele answers questions from people for whom traditional physi cal therapy has not worked.

Q: “How do you know when you need Physical Therapy intervention?”

A: The easy answer is when you have difficulty moving without stiffness and/ or pain. This gets complicated when stiff ness and pain come and go. Most people expect time to heal their problems, but sometimes the body doesn’t improve, and a different approach is needed.

Q: “My Physical Therapy isn’t helping me enough. Why don’t I feel better?”

A: Many people who ask to see me have already received treatment from various health practitioners, including physical therapists. We are trained to ad dress either the injured part of the body or a specific diagnosis.

Sometimes this targeted approach is just what someone needs, and the problem goes away; but often, this isn’t enough, and people can suffer for a long time. For my patients with chronic pain, the holistic approach has proven the most effective.

Q: “What is a holistic approach?”

A: Most healthcare practitioners will address only the physical complaint. What hurts? Where? How long? Level of pain? Often the treatment is a protocol given for a specific diagnosis, while age, gender, occupation, or current life situa tion may not be considered.

A holistic approach addresses the entire person. I will 1) evaluate the in jured part with the rest of the body, 2) inquire about past injuries to understand how your body typically heals, 3) ask about previous jobs and homelife situa tions, experience with depression and/or anxiety 4) watch how you breathe while speaking, moving, and at rest. If we only look at the injured part or the diagnosis,

we may miss important treatment strate gies necessary for healing.

Q: “My pain has been chronic for several years. I don’t know what my body needs, so I don’t know what to ask. How can you help me?”

A: Before your first treatment, we will have a short phone conversation. I will ask you about your challenge(s), share my approach, and explain how your treatment will address your complaints AND teach you how to work with your body.

During your evaluation and first treat ment, you will begin to learn how to help your body let down and breathe more easily. This is the most important part of your therapy! Let me explain.

When an injury has been chronic for a very long time, the body learns to breathe differently to adapt to the pain. Bracing and tightening can increase and become the new norm. The body can no longer fully relax and let down, and symptoms often worsen with time. The tighter we hold, the worse the pain. Sometimes people don’t even realize this is happen ing.

For example, after a fall or following a surgery, part of the body will stiffen from the impact, and if the body isn’t able to relax shortly after (maybe due to future financial concerns about the in jury), stiffening will continue with poor breathing, creating more stress and pain.

Well-intentioned therapy techniques that are done to the body — such as soft tissue massage, ice, heat, ultrasound and dry needling — may only give tempo rary relief or may not work at all if the body is in a chronically stressed and tense state. The only way for a chroni cally stiff and sore muscle to heal is to remember how to let down, soften and relax. If soft tissue remains tight and guarded, no therapy can fully make a dif ference. At best, the patient may experi ence temporary relief — and then tighten up again, renewing the pain.

Q: “What kinds of treatment do you use that differ from traditional physical thera py?”

A: I offer Myofascial Release (MFR), Craniosacral Therapy (CST), Guided Imagery and Therapeutic Exercise. I was trained in the John F. Barnes Myofascial Release (MFR) Technique. This is a total body hands-on technique addressing the myofascial (muscle and fascia) system

Michele Rozansky

in our bodies.

Fascia is a part of everything! Fascia is the gooey substance found throughout the body. Fascia behaves like a threedimensional spider web residing every where in our bodies. Thick sleeves of fas cia surround every muscle while creating smaller compartments inside the muscle. Fascia has the important job of support ing us.

When a muscle tires or weakens with an activity, the surrounding fascia will stiffen to lend support. Scarring after an infection, injury or surgery is the fascia naturally thickening to stabilize a vulner able area. But if an area stiffens too much and for too long, the pressure or constric tion will be felt by everything embedded in this fascial web: nerves, blood vessels, muscle fibers, and/or organs, may be compromised interfering with their mo bility and function.

MFR is a hands-on manual therapy technique. MFR requires the therapist and patient to partner with the body to relax and release tightened and shortened muscles. Have you ever tried to pry open a stuck drawer, only to find this doesn’t work? If you gently nudge the drawer into the direction it’s stuck, you can re lease a little tension — and slowly the drawer will open. This is exactly what we do in therapy. We follow the body’s tight ened muscle into the direction it’s most comfortable and wait for the release of tension, allowing a softening. Our bod ies remember exactly how they twisted, turned, and tightened in order to pro tect us and they know exactly how to unwind to rebalance, self-regulate, and calm when sensing support, connection and safety. Nothing is ever forced. We allow the body to soften and relax.

Craniosacral Therapy is MFR; here we address the deepest layer of fascia that surrounds and houses the nervous system. These deeper fascial restrictions can contribute to anxiety, poor sleep, and more physical and emotional heightened states in the body.

Some patients benefit from Guided Imagery that sensitively addresses the interface between the emotional and the physical pain. We practice working with your body’s emotions that can directly influence both your pain and your ability to soften and let down. When the body relaxes and softens, it can open and receive intervention to help your sore muscles move more easily and let go of the pain.

As you learn to strengthen your body with exercise, you will learn to pay at tention (mindfulness) to your body’s ten dencies, i.e., how long can you sit before your pain increases? Most people know this, but they may not know what to do about it. You will be offered many op tions. You can learn an exercise that may help you avoid the pain or to interrupt it. During a therapy session, most peo ple can feel these shifts and sense how resilient their bodies are. You will learn healthier ways to move, unique to your body, as you learn to tune in and discover how your body works!

Many of my patients have suffered trauma, which has impacted their abil ity to respond to treatment and heal their current injury. This combination requires the therapist to have an addi tional set of skills that address trauma: 1) understanding how trauma is processed in the body, 2) tuning into the body on many levels simultaneously, ) provid ing manual therapy that partners with the patient. My specialized training has enabled me to work effectively in these situations.

Lastly, I recognize when other prac titioners are needed to help you. I may refer you to a nutritionist, a functional medicine physician, a psychotherapist and/or back to your doctor who may be needed. I have been practicing physical therapy for over forty years, and I see more and more people question their physicians and therapists. Informed people are taking more responsibil ity for their health, trusting what they feel, knowing that something is wrong, and no longer settling for pat answers — like “It’s part of the aging process.” People are learning how to work and to be with their bodies, respect their abili ties and their limits.

If I have a gift in my work, it is my hands. Through my on-going training in all aspects of physical therapy, my forty-plus years’ experience with bodies in pain, and the intuition in my hands, I bring to each patient a world of empa thy, insight, and skill.

For more information contact Michele at Orlanu Therapies, 1001 W. Glen Oaks Lane, Mequon, WI 53092, (262) 478-0750, or visit www.orlanu therapies.com.

Cindy Carlson Relax and Calm the Nervous System Bring a Sense of Peace and Well Being to Body and Mind Help you Connect to your Own Innate Healing Identify Limiting Patterns and Beliefs that may Hold You Back

Deeper Sleep Connect to Your Joy

What can Reiki and Energy Healing do for you? Allow the powerful energy of Reiki to soothe and relax your mind and body.

MODERN HEALTH AND LIVING Wellness Edition January 202

Lifestyles

WHO WE ARE

WHO WE ARE

Mission Creek is the best local assisted living and memory care for you, your family, friends, and loved ones. We work hard to keep our residents and this community great.

Mission Creek is the best local assisted living and memory care for you, your family, friends, and loved ones. We work hard to keep our residents and this community great.

WHAT WE DO

WHAT WE DO

We work directly with our residents and their families to keep everyone involved with their interest and pursuits. Your community remains at the center of life, alongside top-of-the-line care for a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle.

We work directly with our residents and their families to keep everyone involved with their interests and pursuits. Your community remains at the center of life, alongside top-of-the-line care for a comfortable and fulfilling lifestyle. VISIT

Mission Creek 3217 Fiddlers Creek Dr, Waukesha, WI 53188 (262) 832-1020

Socializing for Seniors

Revitalize Wellness Corner with Lee Zehm-Clay RN, BSN, FCN, HES

St. Camillus Revitalize Wellness Manager

As COVID-19 physical distancing helped prevent the spread of the virus, it also pointed the spotlight to the nega tive effects of social isolation and loneliness. Both of which were widespread problems even before the pandemic. Social

isolation, objectively measured, is the lack of social relationships or social contact. Loneliness is a subjective feeling, usually sadness, of being socially isolated or alone. A person can be socially isolated but not feel lonely. And a person can also feel lonely even when they are surrounded by people. Social isolation and loneliness are very much linked.

A report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) points out that more than one-third (33%) of adults over 45 years of age feel lonely, and nearly one-fourth (25%) of adults over 65 years old are considered to be socially isolated. Older adults are at increased risk for loneliness and social isola tion because they are more likely to face such risk factors as living alone, the loss of family or friends, chronic illness, and hearing loss.

Social isolation is not necessarily always bad; many people crave solitude (at least occasionally). Being alone can be relaxing, prayerful, meditative, even rejuvenating. However, the term “Social Isolation” typically refers to a solitude that is unwanted and unhealthy. Over one’s life course, social isolation and loneliness may be episodic or ongoing depending on the individual’s circumstances and perceptions. It is when the solitude reaches the point of being unwanted, unanticipated or even unhealthy that problems occur.

It is understood that mental and physical health are interconnected. Social isola tion’s adverse health consequences range from sleeplessness and reduced immune function to increase all-cause mortality. Isolation and loneliness have been linked to poor cardiovascular health and cognitive dysfunction and decline. Unwanted social isolation and loneliness is also associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.

There are many community resources available to help those who are feeling the unwanted or adverse effects of social isolation. AARP has Community Connection Tools with tips on how to improve your quality of life. County Aging and Disability Resource Centers offer programs such as congregate dining sites, caregiver sup port and health education classes. Finally, Eldercare Locator, a free national service, helps find local resources for seniors such as financial support, caregiving services, and transportation.

So this year, if you are a senior living alone, I challenge you to accept that invita tion for a holiday coffee or lunch with a friend, attend a community or religious event or better yet call that long lost friend and catch up on old times. If you are a neighbor or know of someone living alone, be kind, lend a smile, maybe even share a plate of home baked (or store bought) treats.

To learn more about St. Camillus Life Plan Community and the Revitalize Well ness Program, call 414-259-6310 or visit www.stcam.com.

Ideas For Your Senior Holiday Party

Spread some holiday cheer with these festive entertaining ideas.

One of the holiday party entertaining ideas for seniors is enjoying a healthy meal.Hosting a party or gathering comes with the reward of togetherness, laugh ter, and fun memories with family and friends. If you’re planning to invite oth ers to your home this season, consider some of these holiday party entertaining ideas for seniors to make your get-to gether a success!

Craft decorations with the grandkids In the days leading up to your holiday party, or during the party itself if you have young guests attending, you can transform your home into a festive, wel coming space by inviting them to par ticipate in a crafting session. If you’re entertaining during the fall, try harvestthemed Thanksgiving decorations like colorful paper leaves, a corn center piece, or decorated pumpkins. If you’re decorating for winter or Christmas, you can make pinecone wreaths, paper pine trees, and suspended snowflakes.

fall or winter evening, hot mulled cider is sure to keep your guests cozy and warm.

Play memory-boosting games

This holiday party entertaining idea for seniors – or anyone – is sure to be a hit with guests of all ages. Memory-boosting group card games, like Texas Hold ‘Em with your adult friends or Go Fish or Memory for younger guests, will exercise your brain as you enjoy the company of others. If you enjoy word-based games, play a fun game of Boggle or Scrabble to help improve vocabulary and cogni tive function. If you have between 6-28 guests, you could even turn the night into a murder mystery where each guest be comes a character, and you work together to solve the mystery.

Host a donation drive

Gather

around the table for a healthy meal

Enjoying a homecooked meal around the table with people you care about is one of the best holiday party entertain ing ideas for seniors! Instead of calorierich dishes, consider taking your party menus in a healthier direction this year. Browse through some of our ideas like these healthy Thanksgiving recipes, healthy soup recipes, and healthy dessert recipes for inspiration. Or, make classic holiday recipes with healthier ingredient substitutions for a nutritious spin on fes tive favorites.

Serve a festive cocktail (or “mock tail” that doesn’t contain alcohol)

You don’t need a fully stocked bar when entertaining guests over the holi days. Instead, consider picking a simple yet festive drink recipe as the featured cocktail for your party. Whether your beverage of choice contains alcohol or not, you can arrange the mixers with a recipe card for guests to mix themselves. For instance, grab ingredients for this Moscow Mule recipe (and those who choose can add vodka to taste). Or select one of these cranberry cocktail recipes for a beautiful festive color. On a chilly

If you’d like to infuse the giving spirit of the holidays into your festive gather ing, consider hosting a holiday donation drive. Whether you’d like to collect food, clothing, funds, or other necessities for an organization in need, let your guests know what contributions they can bring to benefit the cause you’ve chosen. Af ter the party, gather all the donations and deliver them to your local food bank or charity.

Learn more ways to be charitable on our blog and consider helping these char ities that support hearing loss!

Organize a “white elephant” exchange

This idea is a fun way to incorporate gift-giving in your holiday party with out the pressure for attendees to bring an armful of presents for everyone. With a white elephant gift exchange, everyone will bring one gift (not intended for any specific person). During the exchange, players will choose and unwrap gifts from the gift pool, then decide whether to keep it or steal someone else’s gift. The organizer of the game can specify rules, like a suggested gift value and whether they should be good gifts or if “prank” presents are okay.

With these holiday party entertaining ideas for seniors, you’ll be ready to show your guests a good time this season. Make your invitations by calling with a CapTel captioned telephone. To learn how these phones for hearing loss can help you stay connected to family and friends, visit our www.captel.com.

creating fun memories with family and friends

5 Tips: Natural Products for the Flu and Colds: What Does the Science Say?

It’s that time of year again—cold and flu season. Each year, approximately 5 to 20 percent of Americans come down with the flu. Although most recover without incident, flu-related complications typically lead to at least 200,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 and 60,000 deaths each year. Colds generally do not cause serious complica tions, but they are among the leading reasons for visiting a doctor and for missing school or work.

Some people try natural products such as herbs or vitamins and minerals to prevent or treat these illnesses. But do they really work? What does the science say?

Vaccination is the best protection against getting the flu. Starting in 2010, the Federal Government’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended annual flu vaccination for all people aged 6 months and older.

There is currently no strong scientific evidence that any natural product is useful against the flu.

Zinc taken orally (by mouth) may help to treat colds, but it can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Zinc is available in two forms—oral zinc (e.g., lozenges, tab lets, syrup) and intranasal zinc (e.g., swabs and gels). A 2015 analysis of clinical trials found that oral zinc helps to reduce the length of colds when taken within 24 hours after

symptoms start. Intranasal zinc has been linked to a severe side effect (irreversible loss of the sense of smell) and should not be used.

A note about safety: Oral zinc can cause nausea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Long-term use of zinc, especially in high doses, can cause problems such as copper deficiency. Zinc may interact with drugs, including antibiotics and penicillamine (a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis).

Vitamin C does not prevent colds and only slightly reduces their length and se verity. A 2013 review of scientific literature found that taking vitamin C regularly did not reduce the likelihood of getting a cold but was linked to small improve ments in cold symptoms. In studies in which people took vitamin C only after they got a cold, vitamin C did not improve their symptoms.

A note about safety: Vitamin C is generally considered safe; however, high doses can cause digestive disturbances such as diarrhea and nausea.

Echinacea has not been proven to help prevent or treat colds. Echinacea is an herbal supplement that some people use to treat or prevent colds. Echinacea products vary widely, containing different species, parts, and preparations of the echinacea plant. Reviews of research have found limited evidence that some echi nacea preparations may be useful for treating colds in adults, while other prepa rations did not seem to be helpful. In addition, echinacea has not been shown to reduce the number of colds that adults catch. Only a small amount of research on echinacea has been done in children, and the results of that research are in consistent. A note about safety: Few side effects have been reported in clinical trials of echinacea; however, some people may have allergic reactions. In one large clinical trial in children, those who took echinacea had an increased risk of developing rashes.

The evidence that probiotic supplements may help to prevent colds is weak, and little is known about their long-term safety. Probiotics are a type of “good bacteria,” similar to the microorganisms found in the body, and may be beneficial to health. Probiotics are available as dietary supplements and yogurts, as well as other products such as suppositories and creams. Although a 2015 analysis of research indicated that probiotics might help to prevent upper respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold, the evidence is weak and the results have limitations.

A note about safety: Little is known about the effects of taking probiotics for long periods of time. Most people may be able to use probiotics without experi encing any side effects—or with only mild gastrointestinal side effects such as gas —but there have been some case reports of serious side effects. Probiotics should not be used by people with serious underlying health problems except with close monitoring by a health care provider.

Sweet Stuff

Most of us love sweet foods and drinks. But after that short burst of sweet ness, you may worry about how sweets affect your waistline and your overall health. Is sugar really bad for us? How about artificial or low-calorie sweeten ers? What have scientists learned about the sweet things that most of us eat and drink every day?

Our bodies need one type of sugar, called glucose, to survive. “Glucose is the number one food for the brain, and it’s an extremely important source of fuel throughout the body,” says Dr. Kris tina Rother, an NIH pediatrician and ex pert on sweeteners. But there’s no need to add glucose to your diet, because your body can make the glucose it needs by breaking down food molecules like car bohydrates, proteins, and fats.

Some sugars are found naturally in foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and milk. “These are healthful additions to your diet,” says Dr. Andrew Bremer, a pediatrician and NIH expert on sweet eners. “When you eat an orange, for in stance, you’re getting a lot of nutrients and dietary fiber along with the natural sugars.”

Although sugar itself isn’t bad, says Rother, “sugar has a bad reputation that’s mostly deserved because we consume too much of it. It’s now in just about every food we eat.”

Experts agree that Americans eat and drink way too much sugar, and it’s con tributing to the obesity epidemic. Much of the sugar we eat isn’t found naturally in food but is added during processing or preparation.

About 15% of the calories in the American adult diet come from added sugars. That’s about 22 teaspoons of added sugar a day. Sugars are usually added to make foods and drinks taste better. But such foods can be high in calories and offer none of the health ful benefits of fruits and other naturally sweet foods.

Sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks are the leading source of added sugars in the American diet. Juices naturally contain a lot of sugar. But sometimes, even more is added to make them taste sweeter.

“Juices offer some vitamins and other nutrients, but I think those benefits are greatly offset by the harmful effects of too much sugar,” says Bremer.

Over time, excess sweeteners can take a toll on your health. “Several stud ies have found a direct link between ex cess sugar consumption and obesity and cardiovascular problems worldwide,” Bremer says.

Because of these harmful effects, many health organizations recommend that Americans cut back on added sug ars. But added sugars can be hard to identify. On a list of ingredients, they may be listed as sucrose (table sugar), corn sweetener, high-fructose corn syr up, fruit-juice concentrates, nectars, raw sugar, malt syrup, maple syrup, fruc tose sweeteners, liquid fructose, honey, molasses, anhydrous dextrose, or other words ending in “-ose,” the chemical suffix for sugars. If any of these words are among the first few ingredients on a food label, the food is likely high in sug ar. The total amount of sugar in a food is listed under “Total Carbohydrate” on the Nutrition Facts label.

Many people try cutting back on calo ries by switching from sugar-sweetened to diet foods and drinks that contain lowor no-calorie sweeteners. These artificial sweeteners—also known as sugar substi tutes—are many times sweeter than table sugar, so smaller amounts are needed to create the same level of sweetness.

People have debated the safety of ar tificial sweeteners for decades. To date, researchers have found no clear evidence that any artificial sweeteners approved for use in the U.S. cause cancer or other

how sweets affect your waistline and your overall health. Is sugar really bad for us?

Feeling Out of Joint

the aches of arthritis

Many people start to feel pain and stiffness in their joints as they get older, often when they’re 45 to 50. It’s called arthritis, and it’s one of the most common diseases nationwide. You may think it’s a disease of old age, but arthritis can affect young adults and even children. In recent years, scientists have made rapid progress in understanding the many causes of arthritis. They’ve also made significant strides in developing effective new treatments for many forms of the disease.

What exactly is arthritis? “Arthr” means joint, and “itis” means inflammation— heat, swelling, and redness. But the inflammation of arthritis isn’t always something you can see.

“Some types of arthritis are very inflammatory and others aren’t as much. But they all involve an element of inflammation,” explains Dr. Joanne M. Jordan of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Arthritis comes in many forms. In fact, there are more than 100 types, each with

its own symptoms and treatments. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthri tis.

Osteoarthritis occurs when cartilage, the tissue that cushions the ends of the bones within the joints, breaks down and wears away. It most often affects the fingers, knees, and hips.

Osteoarthritis can follow injury to a joint. For example, years after a soccer injury to a knee, you might get osteoarthritis in the knee. Once you’ve had a severe joint injury, it’s important to be careful about what kind of activities you do.

“You should be active because, ironically, being active can help prevent disease,” says Dr. David Felson of Boston University. “But try not to be active in ways that can make your joint vulnerable to injury again.”

For the most part, researchers don’t know a lot about how and why osteoarthritis occurs. Women tend to get it more often than men. You tend to get it as you get older.

“Many factors that affect osteoarthritis are things you can’t control, like how old you are and what gender you are,” Felson says.

But some risk factors are under your control, including your weight. “Even mod erately overweight people have an increase in knee osteoarthritis,” says Felson.

Many treatments are available for osteoarthritis. Talk to your doctor about exer cises that can help and activities you should avoid. Several pain and anti-inflamma tory medicines are available by prescription or over the counter.

Perhaps the most promising treatments for osteoarthritis right now, Felson says, involve ways to block pain. Researchers are working on other approaches as well, including exercise routines and devices that alter the alignment of your joints. For se vere cases of osteoarthritis, scientists have developed improved surgeries to replace knees and hips.

Another common type of arthritis is gout. Gout usually affects the big toe, but many other joints may be involved. It’s caused by needle-like crystals that build up in the joints.

People with gout might try to avoid certain foods—including liver, beef, ancho vies, and meat gravy—because they can bring on a gout attack in some people. These foods are rich in molecules called purines, which break down in your body and can ultimately contribute to crystal formation. Drinking alcohol, being overweight, and taking certain medications may make gout worse. In older people, some blood pres sure medicines can also increase the chance of a gout attack.

Your doctor might do blood tests and X-rays to find out if you have gout. If you are diagnosed with gout, it can be treated several different ways, often in combina

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Starting the Search for an Older Adult Residence

Independent Living is like living on your own in an apartment building. You get no services or nursing care at all; you come and go as you please; you have no spe cial health requirements.

Assisted Living means you need help with at least one of the “activities of daily living,” or ADLs. They are dressing, feeding, bathing, toileting, and transferring (moving from bed to chair, chair to walker, etc.).

In order to be accepted into an assisted living, the nurse manager of the establish ment will do an assessment of the prospective resident to determine if the applicant is, indeed, a candidate for assisted living. At the same time, the nurse manager will make sure that the facility will be able to meet his or her needs.

Some facilities are licensed to offer “à la cart” assisted living services in an in dependent living apartment. The resident would pay a fee to be under the nursing services of the residence. The permits them to keep a chart on the resident, speak to the resident’s physicians, and document his or her care. The resident can then choose certain other services, which are paid for separately. This is different from true as sisted living, in which all the services are included in the rent.

How big an apartment does Mom really need?

This is one of the hardest things to come to terms with. For many people in Wis consin, this will be the first time they have moved in 52 years. They are used to being in their houses, with so much furniture, and many personal belongings around them. Then they tour an assisted living or independent apartment. If it is as small as a studio apartment -- one room -- they are shocked and dismayed. Even though some of them seem quite spacious, with a small kitchenette, full bathroom, and lovely view out of the windows, it is still quite a difference from what Mom or Dad is used to.

But often the reality is that the great big house they are used to is going to waste. Think about what rooms are actually being used. In most cases, it is the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Perhaps one other room as well. It is a good idea to discuss this before starting to tour so the potential resident has a realistic view of what he or she needs when the time comes to look. Then focus on the rest of the building. After all, the many common areas of the building are the rest of your house! Is there a library? You can sit there and read books. A lobby? The perfect place to sit with friends to chat between activities or before dinner. There may be small alcoves with comfortable furniture, or special rooms set aside for games or cozy reading rooms. The point is: the entire building is your home; not just your own apartment. So don’t just tour the apartment. Be sure to look at everything as though you will use it all.

The same thing applies to the furniture. When was the last time your parents used the full dining room set? If it is something that is used only once a year or less, keep in mind that their new residence will most likely have a private dining room that can be reserved for private parties. In other words, look practically at household posses sions.

There is a new industry of senior relocation services that has been created spe cifically to help aging adults prepare to leave their long-time homes and move into smaller residences. These experts will look at both the new space and the old and, for a fee, help to make the tough decisions about what to bring and what to leave. They are experienced in knowing what will fit, what is necessary, what is an emotional need, and how to make it all happen. In addition, these transition services will also pack your boxes, arrange for movers, unpack your boxes, help you decide where

disorders also can lead to memory loss. A doctor should treat serious medical condi tions like these as soon as possible.

CHANGES IN MEMORY

Forgetfulness can be a normal part of aging. As people get older, changes occur in all parts of the body, including the brain. As a result, some people may notice that it takes longer to learn new things, they don’t remember information as well as they did, or they lose things like their glasses. These usually are signs of mild forgetful ness, not serious memory problems.

The decision about whether your parents should move is often tricky and emotional. Each family will have its own reasons for wanting (or not wanting) to take such a step.

You might have to have a serious talk with your family members. One family may decide a move is right because the parents can no longer manage the home. For another family, the need for hands-on care in a long-term care facility motivates a change.

Some older adults also find that they don’t do as well as younger people on com plex memory or learning tests. Scientists have found, though, that given enough time, healthy older people can do as well as younger people do on these tests. In fact, as they age, healthy adults usually improve in areas of mental ability such as vocabulary.

In the case of long-distance caregivers, the notion of moving can seem like a solution to the problem of not being close enough to help. For some caregivers, moving a sick or aging parent to their own home or community can be a viable alternative. Some families decide to have an adult child move back to the parent’s home to become the primary caregiver.

Other Causes Of Memory Loss

Some memory problems are related to health issues that may be treatable. For example, medication side effects, vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic alcoholism, tu mors or infections in the brain, or blood clots in the brain can cause memory loss or possibly dementia (see more on dementia, below). Some thyroid, kidney, or liver

Keep in mind that leaving a home, community, and familiar medical care can be very disruptive and difficult for the older parent, especially if they are not enthusiastic about the change. You might first want to explore what services are available in

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Eastcastle Place has specially designed memory care support where you’ll find advanced therapies and specialized care programming for those with a memory related diagnosis.

Emotional problems, such as stress, anxiety, or depression, can make a person more forgetful and can be mistaken for dementia. For instance, someone who has recently retired or who is coping with the death of a spouse, relative, or friend may feel sad, lonely, worried, or bored. Trying to deal with these life changes leaves some people confused or forgetful.

your parents’ community to help them in their home—including home health care, housekeeping, personal care, and transportation services.

Older adults and their families have some options when it comes to deciding where to live, but these choices can be limited by factors such as illness, ability to perform activities of daily living (for example, eating, bathing, using the toilet, dressing, walking, and moving from bed to chair), financial resources, and personal preferences.

The confusion and forgetfulness caused by emotions usually are temporary and go away when the feelings fade. The emotional problems can be eased by supportive friends and family, but if these feelings last for a long time, it is important to get help from a doctor or counselor. Treatment may include counseling, medication, or both.

More Serious Memory Problems

Making a decision that is best for your parent—and making that decision with your parent—can be difficult. Try to learn as much as you can about possible housing options.

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is for people who need help with daily care, but not as much help as a nursing home provides. Assisted living facilities range in size from as few as 25 residents to 120 or more. Typically, a few “levels of care” are offered, with residents paying more for higher levels of care.

For some older people, memory problems are a sign of a serious problem, such as mild cognitive impairment or dementia. People who are worried about memory problems should see a doctor. The doctor might conduct or order a thorough physi cal and mental health evaluation to reach a diagnosis. Often, these evaluations are conducted by a neurologist, a physician who specializes in problems related to the brain and central nervous system.

A complete medical exam for memory loss should review the person’s medical history, including the use of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diet, past medical problems, and general health. A correct diagnosis depends on accurate de tails, so in addition to talking with the patient, the doctor might ask a family member, caregiver, or close friend for information.

Assisted living residents usually live in their own apartments or rooms and share common areas. They have access to many services, including up to three meals a day; assistance with personal care; help with medications, housekeeping, and laundry; 24-hour supervision, security, and on-site staff; and social and recreational activities. Exact arrangements vary from state to state.

Older adults, or those with serious illness, can choose to:

Stay in their own home or move to a smaller one

Move to an assisted-living facility

Move to a long-term care facility

Blood and urine tests can help the doctor find the cause of the memory problems or dementia. The doctor also might do tests for memory loss and test the person’s problem-solving and language abilities. A computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan may help rule out some causes of the memory problems.

Move in with a family member

Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Some people with memory prob lems have a condition called amnestic mild cognitive impairment, or amnestic MCI. People with this condition have more memory problems than normal for people their age, but their symptoms are not as severe as those of Alzheimer’s disease, and they are able to carry out their normal daily activities.

Some families find a conference call is a good way to talk together about the pros and cons of each option. The goal of this call is to come up with a plan that works for everyone, especially your parent. If the decision involves a move for your mom or dad, you could, even from a distance, offer to arrange tours of some places for their consideration.

How do I know when someone needs assisted living?

Signs of MCI include misplacing things often, forgetting to go to important events and appointments, and having trouble coming up with desired words. Family and friends may notice memory lapses, and the person with MCI may worry about los ing his or her memory. These worries may prompt the person to see a doctor for diagnosis.

Memory>>page 

In general, it’s best to start with a physician’s assessment. Depending on your situation, or that of your loved one, you can find the right level of assistance. When help with daily tasks is needed — taking medicines, bathing, dressing, meals, transportation and housekeeping — an assisted living residence can be the answer. Trained professionals provide this assistance while helping preserve an individual’s independence.

Our Heartfelt Connections Program provided by our Skilled Care Specialists work closely with residents, families and staff members to develop the best care plan in a supportive, purposeful environment.

This builds a sense of comfort through nurturing mind, body and spirit with stimulating activities and personal guidance each day.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

It’s our privilege to support your loved one.

Assisted Living Is An Excellent Choice For Those Who Want To Remain Independent

As families spend more time together over the holidays and it may become ap parent that life may not be as it once was. You may notice that Mom’s famous salad tastes different or Dad’s repeating himself more than usual. Family members may begin to notice changes in behavior and memory. Or you may be in a situation where one parent is the primary care giver and you can see the strain of the situation is becoming too much.

Should you find yourself observing those kinds of changes over the holidays don’t ignore the signs and hope they disappear, they may indicate that it is time to explore options for your loved ones. Family members have found that assisted living is an excellent choice for those who want to remain independent and enjoy a vibrant lifestyle yet need additional help with daily activities. Assisted living is the senior living option that combines housing, support services, and health care, as needed. Seniors who choose assisted living enjoy an independent lifestyle while receiving assistance customized to meet their needs and enrich their lives while living in an environment that promotes well-being. The services and care give families peace of mind knowing loved ones are safe, comfortable and engaged. The pressure is off the family members because staff is available to meet their loved ones needs so family can be family again.

Assisted Living residents soon find that the daily chores that have depleted their energy are no longer a concern. They can enjoy three healthy and delicious meals a day plus snacks, as well as social and wellness activities designed to support a well-rounded lifestyle. If you are looking for a senior living option that combines independence and personal care support in a residential setting - you are looking for assisted living.

If you find more care is needed you can explore Memory Care options. Tudor Oaks Memory Care in Windsor Gardens is designed for loved ones experiencing memory loss and associated concerns. Residents reside in a comfortable, safe and supportive setting that offers all-encompassing programs designed to meet their unique needs. Each resident has a private apartment with private bathroom and shower. Caring and compassionate staff are available 24/7 to care for expected or unexpected needs. The memory care program provides a wide range of group and individualized activities that give residents a foundation of structure and purpose.

Whether the need is Assisted Living or Memory Care, Tudor Oaks Senior Living Community provides a supportive and stimulating environment where residents can thrive in body, mind and spirit.

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Building

For an aging parent, making the transition to move into a senior living commu nity can be challenging, especially if that person lived in the same place for many decades. But with the proper planning, the experience can go very smoothly. Senior living communities offer beautiful living accommodations, delicious meals, great amenities, and engaging activities.

As you think about the physical logistics involved in moving an older parent to a senior living community, here are some helpful ideas about breaking the process into a timeline.

 Weeks Before

Most seniors have accumulated many possessions over the years, and one of the most important steps in the moving process is to pare down your loved one’s be longings as much as possible by eliminating unwanted or unneeded items. Focusing on downsizing is also the perfect time to recall and share many wonderful family memories. Reminiscing about past experiences together will help your parent lessen any anxiety that they might be feeling.

 Weeks Before

Contact family members to come pick up any items that they want to keep from your parent’s home. Because you will be on a tight time schedule, it’s important to give them a deadline, so you can continue the moving process in an orderly fashion. For items that are leftover, arrange for them to be donated to a local consignment or thrift store, as they are bound to be useful to someone else.

This is also a good time of change your parent’s mailing address, as well alert their doctor, cable company and utilizes about the move.

No matter your need, we have the right community for you. Get started finding the perfect new home for you or your loved one today!

Find a Community

4 Weeks Before

By this point with the move only a month away, you should know exactly where your loved one’s living space will be in the community. Get the dimensions of their new apartment so you can plan for what furniture, art work, electronics and other items to bring. Decorating ideas can be considered during this time as well.

1 Week Before

With only one week to go, be sure to gather all important documentation that your parent will need such as wills, medical records, power of attorney documents, finan cial records, birth certificates, military records or passports.

Also, be sure to pack an “essentials” bag with everything that they will need upon arriving at the new community. This should include several days’ worth of clothes, toiletries, medication and other important items that they will want to access right away.

Moving Day

After a great deal of planning, moving day will finally arrive. Be prepared that it might be an emotional experience for your loved one and all involved family mem bers. Even though moving to a senior living community is a very positive and life enhancing thing to do, it might be tough for your loved one to face the fact that one chapter of their life is closing, even though a new one is about to begin.

It’s always very important to be patient, understanding and supportive to your par ent, but especially at this critical time.

Welcoming Them to Their New Home!

When your loved one arrives at their new home at the senior living community, you can rest assured that they will be warmly welcomed by everyone, including staff members and fellow residents. These communities do a great job of making a new person feel at home and acquainting them with their new surroundings. Your parent will be making new friends from the very first day!

indoor access to a mul tude of ameni es. This

provides a more “home-like” living experience allowing for more privacy and separa on of living , while s ll having the convenience of quality ameni es and services when desired.

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serious health problems in humans.

But can they help with weight loss? Scientific evidence is mixed. Some studies suggest that diet drinks can help you drop pounds in the short term, but weight tends to creep back up over time. Rother and other NIH-funded researchers are now work ing to better understand the complex effects that artificial sweeteners can have on the human body.

Studies of rodents and small numbers of people suggest that artificial sweeteners can affect the healthful gut microbes that help us digest food. This in turn can alter the body’s ability to use glucose, which might then lead to weight gain. But until larger studies are done in people, the long-term impact of these sweeteners on gut microbes and weight remains uncertain.

“There’s much controversy about the health effects of artificial sweeteners and the differences between sugars and sweeteners,” says Dr. Ivan de Araujo of Yale Univer sity. “Some studies indicate that sweeteners can produce physiological effects. But depending on what kind of measurement is taken, including in humans, the outcomes may be conflicting.”

De Araujo and others have been studying the effects that sugars and low-calorie sweeteners might have on the brain. His animal studies found that sugar and sweet eners tap differently into the brain’s reward circuitry, with sugars having a more powerful and pleasurable effect.

“The part of the brain that mediates the ‘I can’t stop’ kinds of behaviors seems to be especially sensitive to sugars and largely insensitive to artificial sweeteners,” de Araujo says. “Our long-term goal is really to understand if sugars or caloric sweet eners drive persistent intake of food. If exposed to too much sugar, does the brain eventually change in ways that lead to excess consumption? That’s what we’d like to know.”

Some research suggests that the intensely sweet taste of artificial, low-calorie sweeteners can lead to a “sweet tooth,” or a preference for sweet things. This in turn might lead to overeating. But more studies are needed to confirm the relative effects of caloric vs. non-caloric sweeteners.

“In the long run, if you want to lose weight, you need to establish a healthy life style that contains unprocessed foods, moderate calories, and more exercise,” Rother says.

When kids grow up eating a lot of sweet foods, they tend to develop a preference for sweets. But if you give them a variety of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables early in life, they’ll develop a liking for them too.

“It’s important for parents to expose children to a variety of tastes early on, but re alize that it often takes several attempts to get a child to eat such foods,” says Bremer. “Don’t give up too soon.”

Joint<<page 2

tion.

A very different type of arthritis is called rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast to os teoarthritis and gout, which affect particular joints, rheumatoid arthritis can affect your whole body. It arises when your immune system mistakenly attacks your own joints. That can bring pain, swelling, stiffness, and loss of function in joints and bones—most often in the hands and feet. Rheumatoid arthritis may also affect your internal organs and systems. You might feel sick or tired or have a fever.

Laboratory tests for certain immune system activity can confirm whether you have rheumatoid arthritis. The good news is that now there are medications not only to control pain and inflammation, but to actually slow or stop damage to your joints.

A lot of new treatments that have come out in the past 10 to 15 years have revolu tionized the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis,” Jordan says.

Some rheumatoid arthritis medications interfere with the immune system’s ac tivity. By interrupting the events that lead to inflammation, these medications help block inflammation and prevent structural damage to the joints.

“If you’re concerned you have rheumatoid arthritis, it’s important to see a doctor fairly soon,” Felson advises. “Your joints can be damaged by the process of arthritis, and that damage cannot be reversed, so it’s important to get treatment as early as possible.”

Researchers continue to explore what causes arthritis. A better understanding of the factors involved might lead to new treatment approaches. Genes play a signifi cant role in many types of arthritis. For example, scientists have linked certain im mune system genes with a tendency to develop rheumatoid arthritis. Genes involved in how uric acid is processed have been tied to gout.

For osteoarthritis, Jordan estimates that up to 30% to 60% of your risk may lie in the genes you inherited from your parents. “The tricky part, though, is that it’s not a single gene,” Jordan explains. “It’s a lot of different genes that interact with each other and with the environment to cause the disease.”

Researchers are also looking at other risk factors, such as job-related exposures and heavy metals, such as lead, in the environment. They’ve been developing better ways of looking inside joints as well. If

feel pain and stiffness in your joints, don’t hesitate to bring it up with

7 Five-Minute Exercises for Seniors

These five-minute exercises for seniors can be done at home whenever you have a little extra time.

The idea of starting a workout routine can be intimidating. Some days, it’s tough just to find enough time to dedicate to ex ercise.

Fortunately, you don’t have to add hours to your schedule! It can be much easier (physically and psychologically) to do bite-sized workouts whenever you have a few extra minutes

In honor of Active Aging Week, which runs October 3-9, we’re highlighting some great five-minute exercises for seniors and how to easily fit them into your day:

Commercial-break bodyweight exercises

Walking during phone calls

Five-minute morning yoga

Hallway lunges

Doing laps around the house Quick dumbbell exercises

Jumping rope

Even though these exercises are short and mostly low-impact, it’s still a good idea to check in with your doctor before trying any new type of physical activity.

Let’s check out these five-minute exer cises for seniors!

Commercial-break bodyweight exercises

Looking for a way to make TV watching healthy? Turn commercial breaks into ex ercise opportunities! You can do push-ups (including knee push-ups, wall push-ups, or couch push-ups), sit-ups or crunches, squats, or planks. These are all exercises that allow you to do as many or as few as you have the time and energy for.

Walking during phone calls

When you take a call on your mobile or cordless phone, use it as a reminder to start strolling! You don’t have to walk so quick ly that you get out of breath and it’s hard to talk, of course. Just walking between rooms or down the sidewalk gets your blood moving. If you look for any possible opportunity to walk more each day, you’ll start noticing the health benefits of walk ing.

Five-minute morning yoga

Mornings and yoga go together like peanut butter and jelly! Find a few sim

ple stretches that make your body feel amazing, and take five minutes after you wake up to start your day on the right foot (maybe you’ll literally be balancing on your right foot!). Check out the benefits of yoga and some yo ga moves that promote better hearing.

Hallway lunges

A nice long hallway is a perfect spot to do some lunge laps! There are a few different variations of the walk ing lunge, but the basic idea is pretty consistent. You take wide steps and lower your body with each one, which simultaneously stretches out the leg in the back and engages the muscles in the front leg. If you like, you can carry dumbbells to engage the arms as well.

Doing laps around the house

Here’s another way to increase your walking! If you have five minutes and want to move a little, do a couple of power-walking laps of your house. On nice days, you can do it outside and maybe take a lap around the block. For an interior challenge, make it a goal to pass each room of your house as many times as you can in five minutes! Just remain aware of tripping hazards while you’re at it.

Quick dumbbell exercises

Dumbbell workouts are one of our top ways to stay active indoors. It’s easy to just grab them when you have a few minutes and feel like pumping some iron. Try a five-minute dumbbell routine like this, incorporating a vari ety of different exercises to engage all your muscles.

Jumping rope

Jump ropes aren’t just for kids anymore! If you have good bal ance and your doctor clears you for jumping exercises, five minutes is more than enough to get your heart rate pumping. Here’s a workout vid eo guiding beginners through a fiveminute jump rope workout.

Looking for more ways to add ex tra movement to your lifestyle? Check out these exercises that improve pos ture and some ways to make exercise fun!

Researchers have found that more people with MCI than those without it go on to develop Alzheimer’s within a certain timeframe. However, not everyone who has MCI develops AD. Studies are underway to learn why some people with MCI prog ress to AD and others do not.

There currently is no standard treatment for MCI. Typically, the doctor will regu larly monitor and test a person diagnosed with MCI to detect any changes in memory and thinking skills over time. There are no medications approved for use for MCI.

Dementia. Dementia is the loss of thinking, memory, and reasoning skills to such an extent that it seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities. De mentia is not a disease itself but a group of symptoms caused by certain diseases or conditions such as Alzheimer’s. People with dementia lose their mental abilities at different rates.

Symptoms may include: Being unable to remember things

Asking the same question or repeating the same story over and over Becoming lost in familiar places

Being unable to follow directions

Getting disoriented about time, people, and places Neglecting personal safety, hygiene, and nutrition

Two of the most common forms of dementia in older people are Alzheimer’s dis ease and vascular dementia. These types of dementia cannot be cured at present.

In Alzheimer’s disease, changes to nerve cells in certain parts of the brain result in the death of a large number of cells. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s begin slowly and worsen steadily as damage to nerve cells spreads throughout the brain. As time goes by, forgetfulness gives way to serious problems with thinking, judgment, recogniz ing family and friends, and the ability to perform daily activities like driving a car or handling money. Eventually, the person needs total care.

In vascular dementia, a series of strokes or changes in the brain’s blood supply leads to the death of brain tissue. Symptoms of vascular dementia can vary but usu ally begin suddenly, depending on where in the brain the strokes occurred and how severe they were. The person’s memory, language, reasoning, and coordination may be affected. Mood and personality changes are common as well.

It’s not possible to reverse damage already caused by a stroke, so it’s very im portant to get medical care right away if someone has signs of a stroke. It’s also important to take steps to prevent further strokes, which worsen vascular dementia symptoms. Some people have both Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia.

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tended consequence of how we use technology and there can be no substitute for human to human interaction.

Our True Nature cannot be shared unless we are present with each other. We need to return to our humanity, to empathy and kindness. To experience this, we need to reorient ourselves to have more authentic relationships. This is one way we can live from kindness rather than merely do ‘kind things’.

So next time you are in another’s presence, (even a stranger’s), align with your heart and treat them with kindness, like the Sikh man in India. Offer them a ’Na maskar’ if only in your mind. It means, ‘I honor your True Nature with my True Nature’. Notice how sacred this feels. I promise you it will be healing for both you and the other.

Since we are in the season of reflection and gifting, it may be worth reflecting on what it would mean to live a dharmic life. Gifting another with our True Nature is the greatest gift of all.

©December2022, December2019 Kalpana (Rose) M. Kumar M.D., CEO and Medical Director, The Ommani Center for Integrative Medicine, Pewaukee, WI. www.ommanicenter.com Author of Becoming Real: Reclaiming Your Health in Midlife (2nd Edition), Medial Press, 2014. Dr. Kumar is currently accepting new patients. Call 262.695.5311 for an appointment, either virtual or in-person for those free of symptoms.

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things go, and, if you like, do it all while you’re out grocery shopping for your new apartment!

What should I be looking for?

When you start comparing residences, think about what is important to the person who will be living there. What does he or she like to do? If it’s swimming, look for an indoor swimming pool. If it’s exercise, check out the fitness room. If it’s exercise, find out what kind of exercise schedule they have. Are there yoga classes? Zumba? Brain exercises? What about outings? Are there regular trips to the grocery store? What kind of entertainments do they have, and are they free?

Check out the amenities. Do the apartments include laundry facilities? Where are they? Are they free? Is there parking on the premises? How long are the hallways? If it is a long walk from apartment to elevator, are there benches along the route? Is there a hair salon on the premises? A bank? What about a library, a gift shop or a sundry shop?

how will you spend it?

Oak Park Place offers Assisted Living and Memory Care with all the features you expect in a place to call home.

Individualized services, life-enhancing amenities, and compassionate, professional staff are the foundation of all we do.

Choose from a range of spacious studio and one-bedroom apartments with assistance available from staff 24 hours a day, every day.

Independence when you want it, assistance when you need it. Oak Park Place.

We’ll help you every step of the way.

Call 414-292-0400 or email wauwatosasales@oakparkplace.com.

1621 Rivers Bend, Wauwatosa, WI 53226 www.OakParkPlace.com/Wauwatosa

Explore For A Fulfilling Retirement Lifestyle

Most people have some kind of lifestyle vision for retirement. Unfortunately, without proper planning their dreams won’t always become a reality as they enter the encore time of their lives, says Michael Bivona, a certified public accountant who retired almost 20 years ago.

“I had a simple plan: When I stopped working I planned on living on my 42-foot Chris Craft cruiser with my wife, Barbara, which was a very pleasant pastime during my busy working years,” he says. “But, after a few weeks, as we tried to make our dream a reality we found that we were bored out of our minds.

“Pre-retirees and retirees are rightly concerned about whether they can afford re tirement. But not having enough to do is another kind of deficit that is frequently overlooked until it’s too late,” says Bivona, author of the book “Retiring? Beware!! Don’t Run Out of Money and Don’t Become Bored” (www.michaelbivonabooks. com).

He offers possible avenues to explore for a fulfilling retirement lifestyle.

•Develop a social network with senior civic centers. Civic centers, which usually have

a department dedicated to the betterment of the senior citizens who live in their areas, can be found in almost every municipality in the United States. These centers offer a wide range of activities. Additionally, the following online search, “Fun Activities for Senior Citizens,” offers a nice list of activities and associated details that can be explored prior to retiring.

•Try on a pair of dancing shoes. For some, the thought of dancing may elicit a strong sense of aversion, but you may want to try it anyway. The benefits include exercise, coordination and possibly enjoying a romantic hobby with your spouse or others. Dancing is a beautiful art form that gives participants something with which to chal lenge themselves, Bivona says. A goal-oriented mindset is a healthy one especially when approaching the encore years.

•Make the most of your travels. Traveling is a common bucket list item for most retirees. Of course, it’s going to cost you. That’s why this is a subject that perfectly combines the two great concerns for retirement: money and purpose, both of which can be maximized with “research, research, research, Bivona says. You might even parlay traveling with another interest, such as your family history. You may learn about your roots at www.Ancestory.com, and then visit areas based on your research. Or, you may be more interested in stretching your dollar. There are many cost effec tive deals to be had by researching your heart’s desire on the internet.

•Stay sharp and keep learning The mind is much like the body: If you don’t use it you will accelerate the process of losing it. Building bridges to new adventures is the key to maintaining your mental acuity and increasing your vitality. There are an abundance of educational courses developed for seniors to keep them exercising their mental prowess. Remember, if you started working in your twenties and retire in your sixties, there’s a good chance you’ll spend as many years in retirement as you did working. So building bridges to what you want to do in a rational manner for your encore years is imperative if the last phase of your life is to be enjoyable for you and your love ones.

About Michael Bivona

Michael Bivona, (www.michaelbivonabooks.com), a certified public accountant, retired from the accounting profession and the computer-enhancement industry. He is an award-winning author and the recipient of the prestigious Long Island Uni versity Distinguished Alumni Award, 2007. Among his books published are Business Infrastructure in a Computer Environment and Traveling Around the World with Mike and Barbara Bivona-Part One. He has been interviewed and quoted on Jim Cramer’s The Street; US News & World Reports, Fox Business News; Forbes and many other internet news publications. He lives with his wife, Barbara, on Long Island, N.Y., and in Delray Beach, Fla.

How Peanuts Benefit Seniors

A peanut butter sandwich tastes great–and it’s easy to make and eat. For sen iors, peanut benefits help support the aging process and keep their mind and muscles healthy and strong.

Helps retains muscle

It is also chock-full of proteins to help senior adults retain their muscles, especially as they get older.

Memory and cognition

The peanut is part of the legume family, which means it usually contains lots of B -vitamins that many senior adults lack in their diet. B-vitamins are especially impor tant for memory and cognition.

Protects cells and reduces inflammation

Peanuts (especially the skins) contain resveratrol, a bioactive nutrient found to have anti-aging properties that protects cells from being damaged. And the fats found in peanuts can help ease joint pain caused by inflammation and wear-and-tear over the years.

Malnourished

Anyone not getting enough of the daily essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients may be considered malnourished. Peanuts benefit malnourished people in all kinds of situations. This includes people who are underweight and obese; herbivores and omnivores; in the hospital or at home.

Peanuts are nutrient dense

Peanuts provide essential proteins (a peanut butter sandwich provides complete protein) that are often lacking in vegetarians, elderly, and people in acute stress due to illness and disease. Peanuts and peanut products also contain many of the vita mins, minerals, and nutrients that obese people need—often, these individuals are eating sub-optimal diets.

They also contain the good fats that research has found to aid in reducing cardio vascular risk and managing type 2 diabetes. Peanuts and peanut products are full of nutrients and energy for people requiring extra calories to heal during illness who can’t eat a lot.

Peanut butter is easy to eat

A peanut butter sandwich is easily consumed by people with gum and teeth prob lems—and they taste great.

Peanuts are non-perishable

In Africa, a peanut paste, fortified with vitamins and minerals, is used to treat acute and severe malnutrition and related diseases. This paste does not require water or refrigeration, a scarcity in under-developed countries.

Active Seniors

Peanuts are packed full of energy, proteins and other benefits for hard-core ath letes and fitness junkies. On top of this, peanuts contain high levels of arginine, a protein especially important during exercise and physical activity.

Better circulation

Arginine is a precursor for nitric oxide, which helps open blood vessels, allow ing for better blood flow and circulation throughout the body—especially to active muscles. Blood carries oxygen throughout the body, giving muscles a breath of fresh air during physical activities.

Repair tissue and cells

The proteins found in peanuts also help repair damaged tissues and cells–damage caused when muscles are torn down before becoming bigger as a result of exercise.

Get toned

Recent research shows that arginine may also help decrease the size of white fat cells and increase muscle mass/retention–a definite plus when trying to stay fit and lean.

Memories of Christmas

The Christmas of 1938 was included in the casualty list of the Great Depression, wounded but still very much intact. The annual season of joy, family gatherings, and present exchanging, no matter how shabby, was still evident. All the “trying times” had little significance to a certain 6-year-old Paul Jr. living an innocent and naive life on Newhall Street.

Mid-December that year saw Paul Jr.’s folks and his dear Uncle Caesar conspiring to have a real Santa visit to the neigh borhood, especially to a certain depression-born little boy to be the main recipient. All the neighbors were included in this delightful scheme.

Soon that scheme became a reality. On that December 24, at 7pm, the Newhall Street lights lit up the snow like an illuminated stage. Uncle Caesar became Santa himself, majestically resplendent in fur trimmed scarlet cap, cloak, and pantaloons.

At that appointed hour on Christmas Eve a one-man parade marched down Newhall Street. Neighbors gathered on their lighted porches to see the spectacle. Closer and closer to Paul Jr.’s house his shiny brass bell tolled, and his sonorous voice shouted, “A Merry Christmas and Peace to all.” Young and old echoed his salutation. Santa came closer and closer, and nearer and nearer. Little Paul Jr. wiggled, squiggled, and squirmed with expectation. Then the Jolly Old Elf halted at his house! His house? Then all became quiet.

Santa paused, turned and inquired in a cheery voice if one young Paul Jr. was at home that night. A loud squeaky voice answered in the affirmative. Approaching the porch Santa inquired if Paul Jr. had been a good boy. Again, Paul Jr. answered with a loud voice that he was indeed a good boy, a very good boy. Looking directly into Paul Jr.’s trusting eyes, Santa took little hands in his fur gloved hands whispering in Paul Jr.’s ear that a special gift for him was on his family’s top porch. Once inside, Paul Jr.’s nimble legs led his older sisters and brother in a charge up the stairs. What could be up there? Arriv ing first, Paul Jr.’s searching eyes soon focused on a brand-new, beribboned, ice cold, red tricycle. Blurting out, he excit edly asked if he could ride it right away.

From the street, Santa shouted out to come down. The new red tricycle must be test ridden immediately!

Many hands carefully carried the prize down the stairs and out to the sidewalk. Paul Jr.’s mother insisted he don snow suit, cap, and galoshes before proceeding out into the chilly night. That accomplished, out into the night he ran to give Santa a mighty hug. The duo started the test run through a snow cleared canyon the good neighbors had thoughtfully shoveled.

Then Paul Jr. proudly rode the sparkling new red trike along with a strolling Santa ringing his bell and calling out his traditional greetings to all the neighbors.

Then the great Benefactor of Trikes came into the house and there he sat with the family enjoying cocoa, cookies, and paczkis set out for him. Later, Santa and Paul Jr.’s Paul Sr. enjoyed a few noggins of brandy. All were smiling and laughing at their successful Christmas ploy. This was the happiest and most joyful evening in one small boy’s life.

The Three Inch Rule

Dylan Stoll

Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that you shouldn’t put plastic bottle caps that are less than three inches wide in diameter into the recycling bin?

—Bill S., Grafton, VT

Yes! It is true that you shouldn’t recycle plastic bottle caps that are less than three

inches in diameter; in fact, you shouldn’t recycle anything that is less than three inches in diameter.

Why is this? During the recycling process, plastics are sorted, baled, washed, ground down, separated from contaminants, melted, filtered and made into pellets. This is a long, complicated process, and the smallest plastics are often easily lost. The end result is an overaccumulation of plastic bottle lids and other small plastic items that were disposed of improperly and unfortunately have nowhere to go.

This overaccumulation is very problematic for animal life; marine life in particu lar. Hawaii, for example, is detrimentally affected by the global plastics issue. Be cause of its location in the Pacific, much of the world’s plastic waste ends up on Hawaii’s beaches, making the 50th state an unfortunate but necessary target of sci entific inquiry. According to the Beach Environmental Awareness Campaign Hawaii (BEACH), plastic caps are among the top 10 items found during beach clean-ups. In another study completed by BEACH, it was found that 100 per cent of albatross chicks that call the northwestern Hawaiian Islands home had eaten plastic derived from a number of sources, plastic bottle caps being one of them.

Unfortunately, most plastic bottle caps, regardless of their size, are not easily re cycled and may require a specialized facility. According to Earth 911, plastic bottle caps are made from a different kind of plastic called polypropylene (plastic #5) which has a higher melting point (a difference of 160 degrees Fahrenheit!). Because of this, when the plastic recyclables are melted down, the bottlecaps stay intact. This can render an entire batch of recyclables useless, which means it becomes unusable waste again.

Thankfully, specialized recycling facilities circumnavigate this issue by grind ing the plastic caps into flakes. These flakes are then melted into pellets, which are formed into new items such as reusable plastic bags or car battery casings.

However, finding these specialized facilities may be a bit tricky, depending on where you live. Most curbside collectors offer a cap-on standard, whereby you as the recycler may recycle plastic caps if they are twisted onto a bottle. However, some do not as they may consider a sealed bottle a safety hazard (due to compression/explo sion) while others may simply want to avoid liquids. In some select cases, they may refuse to recycle bottle caps simply because the financial return rate is too low. What ever the case, it is advised that you determine exactly what options your recycling program offers, as the options do vary.

If you’re having difficulty finding a convenient way to recycle your plastic bottle caps, your best option would be to either save them up and then throw them out at an acceptable facility, or to reuse them. Many plastic caps are actually universal and can be used on all sorts of different plastic bottles. Other more determined recyclers have even gone as far as to make arts and crafts from bottle caps! December

soluble vitamins, like vitamins A and E, as well as inflammation-fighting antioxi dants, such as glutathione and superoxide dismutase, says Veronica Rouse, RD, aka the Heart Dietitian.

Vitamins A and E are both fat-soluble vitamins that help support our immune system, skin health, vision and support growth and hormone health, according to the National Institutes of Health.

“Grass-fed meat is higher in vitamin A and E content, lower in total fat, and has a healthier omega-3 to omega-6 ratio than grain-fed meat. Plus, red meat contains bioactive compounds, including taurine for brain and muscle function, carnitine for energy, and creatine for muscle strength and performance,” says Samantha Cassetty, RD, a nutrition advisor to Beef + Lamb New Zealand.

2. It May Be Less Likely to Raise Your Cholesterol

Grass-fed beef still contains saturated fat, but the type of saturated fat in grass-fed meat is different than that in conventionally raised meat.

There are three different types of saturated fat found in red meats: palmitic acid, myristic acid, and stearic acid, according to the March 2010 study in the ‌Nutrition Journal.‌ The first two are known to increase levels of cholesterol. The last, stearic acid, has been shown to have a neutral effect on cholesterol levels.

Grass-fed meat has higher levels of stearic acid, and a small March 2021 ‌Clinical Nutrition‌ study linked stearic acid to lower levels of “bad” LDL cholesterol.

3. It’s Better for Your Heart

Grass-fed meat has a healthier profile of omega-3 to omega-6 ratios, according to Mayo Clinic. Omega-3 to omega-6 ratios have been well-documented to show a link to a lower risk of heart disease, per a July 2021 study in ‌Nutrients‌.

Whether the animal is fed grass or grain, the omega-6 fatty acid composition stays about the same. However, it is the omega-3 fatty acids — the heart-healthy kind — that increase on a grass-fed diet, per the March 2010 ‌Nutrition Journal‌ study

“Looking at grass-fed versus grain-fed beef through an integrative cardiologist’s lens, there are quite a few differences,” says Director of Integrative and Functional Cardiology Trent Orfanos, MD, ABIHM. “I’d recommend grass-fed beef primarily because grass-fed meat has a better ratio of omega-6 fats to omega-three fats. Ome ga-6 fats can increase inflammation, while omega-3 fats are healthier to consume and reduce inflammation. While grass- and grain-fed beef contain roughly the same amount of omega-6, grass-fed beef contains up to five times the amount of omega-3 fats,” Dr. Orfanos tells us.

What’s more, the American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat and eating more omega-3 fatty acids to manage cholesterol levels and to help reduce the risk of heart disease. So getting more omega-3s from grass-fed beef is a smart strategy to support heart health.

4. It’s Better for the Environment

“Not only is grass-fed meat better for you, but it’s better for the planet, too,” Cas setty says.

Grass-fed sheep and beef farming in New Zealand has reduced its carbon emis sions and has a lower carbon footprint than conventionally raised meat, per a No vember 2022 report in the ‌Environmental Impact Assessment Review‌. “Farming livestock on open pasture and a grass-fed diet all day, every day makes this goal possible,” Cassetty says.

Grass-fed meat has another advantage: It’s better for the animals. “For instance, the ability of the animals to eat and live as they would naturally is integral to their wellbeing. And grass-fed animals are generally healthier and require few, if any, drug treatments,” Cassetty explains.

Grass-Fed Meat Brands to Try

Your local grocery likely has a grass-fed or pasture-raised meat section — we have seen these popping up in Walmart, Target, Costco and Aldi. If you want to buy in bulk or order from a trusted source online, check out these brands:

ButcherBox (Starting at $99 for 7+ pounds of custom-choice meat)

Thousand Hills (Land to Market Verified beef, priced per pound and cut)

Teton Waters Ranch (Pre-made burgers, hot dogs, and sausages; $9.90 on Insta cart)

New Zealand Beef and Lamb (Priced per pound at Sam’s Club)

US Wellness Meats (Starting at $7.88 for grass-fed ground beef)

Tips for Cooking Grass-Fed Meat

Grass-fed meat is often leaner, which can create tougher meat if not prepared with less heat and decreased cooking times.

For steaks, most agree that cooking steaks on a stovetop or grill at 325 degrees Fahrenheit is the best temperature for a tender end result.

If baking in the oven, consider decreasing the usual temperature by about 50 de grees F for best results.

“If you’re worried about the cost of grass-fed meat, you can choose a less expen sive cut. For instance, grass-fed flank steak — also known as skirt steak — is the perfect cut for salads, fajitas, and stir-fries, while grass-fed lamb shoulder is a flavor ful cut with a lower price point than lamb leg,” Cassetty explains.

Marinate the meat for a tender texture and better flavor. We love these easy ways to cook tri-tip steak. This article origanallyappeared on livestrong.com

unapproved uses.

Some juices used in “detoxes” and “cleanses” that haven’t been pasteurized or treated in other ways to kill harmful bacteria can make people sick. The illnesses can be serious in children, elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems.

Some juices are made from foods that are high in oxalate, a naturally occurring substance. Two examples of high-oxalate foods are spinach and beets. Drinking large quantities of high-oxalate juice can increase the risk for kidney problems.

People with diabetes should follow the eating plan recommended by their health care team. If you have diabetes, consult your health care providers before making major changes in your eating habits, such as going on a “detox” diet or changing your eating patterns.

Diets that severely restrict calories or the types of food you eat usually don’t lead to lasting weight loss and may not provide all the nutrients you need.

Colon cleansing procedures may have side effects, some of which can be serious. Harmful effects are more likely in people with a history of gastrointestinal disease, colon surgery, severe hemorrhoids, kidney disease, or heart disease.

“Detoxification” programs may include laxatives, which can cause diarrhea se vere enough to lead to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Drinking large quantities of water and herbal tea and not eating any food for days in a row could lead to dangerous electrolyte imbalances.

Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any com plementary health approaches you use, including any “detoxes” or “cleanses.” To gether, you and your health care providers can make shared, well-informed deci sions.

Are all fasting programs considered “detoxes” and “cleanses”?

Although some fasting programs are advertised with “detoxification” claims, oth er fasting programs—including intermittent fasting and periodic fasting—are being researched for health promotion, disease prevention, improved aging, and in some cases weight loss. But there are no firm conclusions about their effects on human health. Also, fasting can cause headaches, fainting, weakness, and dehydration.

“We sometimes see patients who have been poked in the eye by babies and small children.” Raciti suggests, “You should take extra precautions when holding a child who may not be familiar with you or who may be overly excited by all of the holiday activities. To help prevent an accident, try holding the child with one arm and using your free hand to hold or play with their hand that is nearest your face.”

Improper opening of champagne or sparkling wine bottles causes another com mon injury at this time of year. Optometrist David Scheidt, OD, explains, “A cham pagne cork can become a potentially blinding missile. The cork is just small enough to bypass the facial bones that normally protect our eyes from larger objects. The impact of a popped cork can cause painful surface damage or even interior damage which may lead to blindness.”

To prevent turning a celebration into a tragedy, always open corked bottles with proper caution. Never point the bottle top in the direction of anyone’s face, including your own. Keep the beverage chilled since the cold reduces the chances of the cork popping unexpectedly. Always place a towel over the entire top and tilt the bottle at a 45-degree angle away from yourself and others.

By following these simple suggestions (or seeking immediate medical attention in the unfortunate event of an accident), you can be sure to keep a joyous twinkle in your family’s eyes that lasts throughout the New Year.

FREE BOOKLETS & INFORMATION

The doctors quoted in this article are from Eye Care Specialists, an ophthalmol ogy practice honored to have all of its team members named as “Top Doctors” by Milwaukee and MKElifestyle Magazines. They have published and distributed more than one million copies of educational booklets and handouts on common eye con cerns and topics, including cataracts, diabetes, dry eyes, glaucoma, macular degen eration, low vision, when to have your eyes checked, what foods to eat for your eyes, safety tips for driving in the dark and snow, etc. Call 414-321-7035 and leave a mes sage for FREE copies or to schedule an appointment for a thorough eye screening (usually covered by insurance or Medicare) at their offices in downtown Milwaukee, Mayfair Road across from the mall, or 102nd & National Avenue. They also offer extensive educational information at www.eyecarespecialists.net.

Mark Your Calendar!

3 Tbsp of Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Ginger ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

5 large-sized portobello mushrooms

“SPRING INTO WELLNESS” HEALTH FAIR

Optional additions:

For additional flavor, add a dash of sea salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning

Cooking Instructions:

Once you have gathered all the ingredients to make this appetizer, follow these instructions on how to prepare the dish:

First, combine your Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Ginger, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil in a medium-sized bowl.

Come to Milwaukee Catholic Home for our annual “Spring into Wellness” Health Fair on Thursday, March 16th from 10 am - 3 pm at 2462 N. Prospect Avenue. The event includes free health screenings such as blood pressure checks, diabetes testing, cholesterol pre-screenings, and eye exams, as well as massages, reiki, door and raffle prizes, goodie bags, and more! Contact Linda Cardinale at 414.220.3216 or lcardinale@milwaukeecatholichome.org to learn more.

Next, remove the stems of your portobello mushrooms and place the mushrooms in a ziplock bag. This will help the marinating process. Pour the balsamic vinegar and ginger mixture into the ziplock bag. (For a stronger flavor, you can sprinkle in the optional salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning). Allow the mushrooms to sit in the mixture for 15-20 minutes.

While the mushrooms are marinating, preheat your grill to medium-high.

After 15-20 minutes, add your mushrooms to the grill and allow them to cook for around 7 minutes or once you notice grill marks.

Next, flip your mushrooms to the opposite side and allow them to cook for an ad ditional 7 minutes.

Remove the mushrooms from the grill and cut them into bite-sized pieces. Now they are ready to serve!

Honey-Ginger Chicken Bites

Honey-Ginger Chicken Bites are a tasty and protein-packed appetizer that you can serve on any occasion. With ginger, honey, garlic, and soy sauce, these chicken bites are full of flavor and are a great treat for your guests to enjoy.

Ingredients You Will Need for Honey-Ginger Chicken Bites:

½ cup of honey

3 Tbsp of Spice World Squeezable Minced Ginger

5 cloves of Spice World Organic Peeled Garlic, minced

3 Tbsp of soy sauce

2 Tbsp of lemon juice

3 tsp of sesame oil

13 boneless chicken thighs, cut into small pieces

2 tsp of cornstarch

3 tsp of water

Optional Additions: 4 tsp of sesame seeds

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Dash of salt and pepper

Cooking Instructions:

Assisted Living

In a gallon-sized ziplock bag, mix your chicken thighs, honey, Spice World Squeez able Minced Ginger, lemon juice, soy sauce, and Spice World Organic Peeled Garlic. Allow the chicken to marinate in the bag for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator.

Once the chicken has marinated, preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Put your chicken in a broiler pan and add sesame seeds, salt, and pepper if de sired.

Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.

Assisted living provides a great alternative for seniors who need some additional help with medication, grooming, dressing, eating, etc. Assisted living has two options including; Residential Care Apartment Communities (RCAC), which allows seniors to live in their own apartment, but only offers 28 hours of care, and CommunityBased Residential Care Facility or CBRF. This type of community is an ideal living option for seniors who need more assistance that what can be provided by an RCAC, offering care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Assisted living communities tend to offer more of a residential, home-like environment, as well as provide meals, social activities, housekeeping and transportation.

Pour your leftover marinade into a saucepan. Allow the mixture to boil for 5 minutes and discard any solids found. Add in the cornstarch and water. Allow this mixture to cook for 2 minutes while stirring. Turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool.

Specialized Care Community

Once your chicken has cooked for 20 minutes, remove it from the oven and set the oven to broiler mode.

While the oven is adjusting, pour the glaze over the chicken.

Place the glazed chicken back into the oven and broil for 4-6 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow the chicken to cool down before serving.

There are some CBRFs that specialize in caring for one kind of illness. One of the most common is an Alzheimer’s or memory impairment care community. In specialized assisted living communities, the environment, staff and programming is specifically designed to meet the unique needs of those individuals who are living there. Like a non-specialized assisted living community, a specialized care community also provides 24/7 care, social programming, meals, housekeeping and transportation are generally provided.

Nursing Home

You may not be able to control what food you’re served, and you’re going to see other people eating tempting treats. Meet the challenges armed with a plan:

Eat close to your usual times to keep your blood sugar steady. If your meal is served later than normal, eat a small snack at your usual mealtime and eat a little less when dinner is served.

Invited to a party? Offer to bring a healthy dish along.

This is probably the most commonly known, but often confused type of senior living option. It’s also one of the only options that used to be available to seniors. Nursing homes provide 24-hour skilled nursing services for seniors who need rehabilitation after a surgery, or require care for issues like feeding tubes. The levels of hospitality services in nursing homes vary greatly depending on their targeted clientele.

If you have a sweet treat, cut back on other carbs (like potatoes and bread) during the meal.

Whether you’re looking to down-size your home or a community to meet the needs of an aging parent, there is a senior living community to meet your needs. Being prepared and understanding the options available will help you to choose what type of senior living community is best for you or your loved one.

Don’t skip meals to save up for a feast. It will be harder to manage your blood sugar, and you’ll be really hungry and more likely to overeat.

If you slip up, get right back to healthy eating with your next meal.

No food is on the naughty list. Choose the dishes you really love and can’t get any other time of year, like Aunt Edna’s pumpkin pie. Slow down and savor a small serving, and make sure to count it in your meal plan.

Byline: Jan Rupnick is the director of public relations for CRL Senior Living Communities. CRL owns and operates state-of-the-art senior care residences that deliver the highest quality, cutting-edge level of care in specially designed therapeutic environments. The company meets the needs of seniors with independent living, assisted living and Alzheimer’s/dementia care communities.