Tag: prevention

Hand washing, masks and hand sanitizer

Staying Well During COVID-19

by Cara, posted in Articles

According to the CDC, the novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is a new type of virus that has never been seen before now. There is no vaccine and it can spread very easily from person to person, meaning that one of the best ways to prevent getting infected, is to limit exposure to other people.

According to the CDC, there are several ways to protect yourself and others during this pandemic:

  • Wash hands correctly and often. To learn proper hand-washing techniques, watch this video: https://youtu.be/d914EnpU4Fo.
  • Use hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol.
  • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Avoid close contact with others.
  • Cover all coughs and sneezes.
  • Stay home if you are sick.
  • Clean and disinfect often. To learn how to properly disinfect your home, click here.

Symptoms for COVID-19 appear after 2-14 days after being exposed to the virus. The CDC recommends staying home and speaking to your healthcare provider if you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath. If you have emergency warning signs for COVID-19, get medical attention right away. These emergency warning signs include trouble breathing, persistent pain or pressure in your chest, new confusion or inability to arouse, and blueish lips or face. It is important to remember that this is not an inclusive list of symptoms and you should contact or seek medical attention if there are other severe or symptoms.

Traditional Medicinals Tea info for wellness

11 Plants for Wellness

by Cara, posted in Articles

Those mints offered at the end of your meal have a story to tell. They’re modern day descendants of the peppermint plant, also known as Mentha x piperita. In the past, it was widely known that peppermint aided digestion.

When did people start using manufactured products more than home remedies? It wasn’t that long ago. Most of our great-grandparents relied almost entirely on plant allies for wellness.

Some people, thankfully, never forgot the power of the plants. In 1974, Traditional Medicinals was founded with a goal to pass along centuries-old herbal wisdom and a vision for the rebirth of herbalism in North America. Forty-five years later, the company is still passionate about connecting people with plants through high-quality herbal products formulated by herbalists.

Here are 11 plants Traditional Medicinals love, all of which are easy to use at home to support health and wellness:

Click here to learn more.

Sponsored by Traditional Medicinals.

Reishi Mushrooms Tea by Traditional Medicinals

Wellness with Reishi Mushroom

by Cara, posted in Articles

For centuries, cultures around the world have revered mushrooms in spiritual ceremonies, as a staple food, and as powerful sources of herbal medicine. With over 1.5 million species identified, only a fraction have been distinguished as “medicinal mushrooms.” Among this group reigns reishi – known to many as the “Queen of Mushrooms” or “Mushroom of Immortality.”

Living up to its illustrious titles, reishi’s wellness benefits have been touted for 4,000 years by eastern sages, Chinese emperors and holistic practitioners alike. Today, there is a good deal of research on reishi and its therapeutic potential in supporting the immune system. With widespread use in supporting a normal immune response, reishi also helps keep the body in balance.*

As an adaptogen, reishi has a deeply rooted history of use to reinforce the body’s capacity to adapt to stress, and as a result, support a healthy immune system.* Understanding reishi’s ability to affect change over time, traditional Chinese practitioners administered reishi as a daily tonic to fortify the body and balance Qi (vital energy).

Traditional Medicinals’ Reishi with Rooibos and Orange Peel tea captures the power of reishi in a surprisingly delightful sweet and citrusy blend. Unlike the white button mushroom’s familiar “shroomy” taste, reishi’s flavor profile is earthy, robust, and grounding. Traditional Medicinals’ herbalists masterfully paired reishi with the natural sweetness of rooibos and bright citrus peel. The result is the perfect grounding cup of tea for all times of the day.

Medicinal mushrooms are not only good for supporting our health, but also for positively impacting the environment. Today, mushrooms are being studied in fascinating research related to environmental clean-up, sustainable building materials, and even saving the honeybees.

For sustained immune support, consider adding this dose of wellness to your daily health routine throughout the year. Its deeply grounding nature makes it suitable for any time of day. For an acute immune boost, reach for Echinacea Plus or Echinacea Plus Elderberry – both featuring herbs to fire up the immune system in the moment you need it most.*

Pour yourself a mug and drink to good health with the “mushroom of immortality.”

Sponsored by Traditional Medicinals

Heart-healthy foods.

How to Improve Your Heart Health

by Cara, posted in Articles

February is American Heart Month. It is never too late to start on your heart-health journey and starting is an important step everyone should take to live a longer and healthier life. Poor heart health can lead to many serious complications such as heart disease, heart attack, heart failure and even strokes. To many, it may seem difficult to start on this path to a healthier heart, but it is easier than most may think. Even small changes can make drastic reductions in your risk for cardiovascular diseases. The key takeaway: it takes a change in your diet and lifestyle long term to have a healthy heart.  Keeping up a healthy pattern is the only way to reduce the risk.

According to the American Heart Association, the important things to do in order to reduce risk for cardiovascular disease are:

  • Live tobacco free.
  • Eat less nutrient poor foods, which are foods high in calories and low in nutrients.
  • Eat a variety of nutritious foods. (see below!)
  • Try to only consume the number of calories that you will burn. To do this either eat less calories or exercise more. It is recommended to do 150 min of moderate exercise per week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week.

While the above are great suggestions to get someone started on their journey to a healthier heart, these may seem like big tasks to accomplish. Here are some small steps to help you accomplish these goals:

  • Control portion sizes. Most of the time we eat way more than the suggested serving size without realizing it.
  • Incorporate more fruits and vegetables into meals and snacks. This will boost the amount of nutrients you are consuming and will help reduce the hunger and cravings for less nutrient dense foods.
  • Reduce your sodium intake.
  • Try selecting healthier alternatives such as whole grains or low-fat options.

Here are a few heart-healthy foods to try and incorporate more into your diet:

  • Fish
  • Nuts
  • Berries
  • Seeds such as flaxseeds and chia seeds
  • Oats
  • Legumes (beans and lentils)
  • Soy (tofu or edamame)
  • Dark chocolate
  • Fruits (oranges, cantaloupe, papaya)
  • Dark leafy greens (spinach, kale)
  • Vegetables (carrots, sweet potato, red peppers, tomatoes, broccoli, asparagus)
  • Whole grains
  • Avocados
  • Olive oil
  • Garlic
  • Green tea

Sources:
health.clevelandclinic.org
heart.org
mayoclinic.org
healthline.com

Office Featured Setting

Wellness Tips for Cough, Cold & Flu Season at the Office

by Cara, posted in Articles

We are coming into the heavy cold and flu season, so below are some healthy behaviors to keep in mind while working at the office. Choose wellness by following these 10 tips:

  1. Keep your hands clean by washing them often.
  2. Use sanitizer or disinfectant wipes after sneezing, or even after just touching your nose.
  3. If you feel you may be coming down with something, expand your personal space boundaries.
  4. Let others know you may be contagious.
  5. Don’t touch!  It is really that simple.  If you are sick, avoid touching anyone or anything as much as possible. If your co-worker moves towards you to shake hands, refrain and let them know you are sick. (It’s not rude – it’s considerate!) Try not to touch your nose or eyes. It’s better to play it safe then spread your sickness to your co-workers.
  6. Keep your desk well supplied with cold medicine, hand sanitizer, tissues, pain relievers, disinfecting wipes and cough syrup. Wipe down your phone, keyboard and desktop at the end of the day and even twice during the day to prevent the spread of germs.
  7. As you move around the office, try to minimize the number of surfaces that you touch in communal areas. Typical spots include:
    • Break rooms
    • Kitchens
    • Restrooms
  8. Stay home if you are running a fever.  This is the best indicator of being contagious, and you put others at risk if you come into work. Here are some other tips from WebMD to help you consider whether or not you are too sick for work.
  9. If you are sick and can’t make it into work, notify your boss and let her know you don’t want to spread the germs to others at your workplace.
  10. Consider getting a flu shot.  According to the CDC, an annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against the flu.
Woman with coffee mug in front of people exercising

Benefits of Olive Oil and EVOO

by Lisa, posted in Articles
bottles of olive oil

This article is sponsored by Best Choice Brand.

Olive Oil is noted as one of the best options to cook with. 

The Process
Simple enough: olive oil is formed from pressing the oil from olives. Extra virgin olive oil is cleverly abbreviated as EVOO. Extra virgin olive oil is cold pressed through a process using water at the same temperature of the olives at specific stages of the oil extraction. The difference between regular olive oil is that extra virgin olive oil doesn’t use hot water or chemicals to extract oil for lower quality oils.

The Benefits
This oil is high in antioxidants and is a healthy source of high-quality fat. EVOO is included in a Mediterranean Diet for its healthy fats. Some even believe that EVOO can fight against heart disease.

What makes Best Choice extra virgin olive oil special?
The Best Choice EVOO olives are from Southern Italy. The olives are grown in Calabrian Region (Boot of Italy). These olives are touched by the caring hands of an Old Word Family Farm, not a big corporate bottler. Also, the EVOO olives are Italian olives and not a blended oil made from multiple countries. This ensures the highest quality.

Best Choice’s unique packaging also stands out as well and provides additional quality components. Any quality EVOO should be in a dark green bottle because everyday light in homes can breakdown the healthy qualities of EVOO. This is why the Best Choice Olive Oil is packaged in a dark green bottle. The 34 oz bottles of EVOO come with a unique, pop-up pour spout. The spout offers a cleaner use as well as an easier way to pour for all of your recipes.

For recipes highlighting EVOO or olive oil, click here: https://bestchoicebrand.com/news/benefits-of-best-choice-olive-oil-and-evoo/

Woman with coffee mug in front of people exercising

What is Gingivitis:

by Lisa, posted in Articles

Causes, Symptoms, Treatments & Prevention

Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson 

Gingivitis is a common and mild form of gum disease that is a precursor to the more-serious gum disease called periodontitis. Gingivitis can be so mild, in fact, that you may not even recognize it.

Here’s what you should know about the causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention of gingivitis.

What causes gingivitis? Gingivitis is caused by the buildup of bacteria, mucus, and food debris in our mouths, which combine into a sticky substance called plaque. When plaque doesn’t get removed by regular dental care, it turns into a more resilient substance called tartar. Plaque, tartar and the toxins they produce infect and inflame the gums, developing into gingivitis.

What are the symptoms of gingivitis?

  • Swollen, soft, puffy or receding gums
  • Tender gums, itchy guyms, or gums that easily bleed during brushing and flossing
  • Bad breath that just won’t go away

How to treat or prevent gingivitis? The best way to treat gingivitis is to prevent it from happening by maintaining a healthy oral-care routine, including:

  • Brushing teeth twice a day
  • Rinsing with mouthwash
  • Flossing regularly to remove plaque
  • Maintaining a healthy diet

Other factors that can lead to gingivitis. Gingivitis is most commonly caused by plaque buildup, but there are a number of other conditions that may raise the risk of gingivitis, including:

  • Diabetes
  • Hormonal changes, especially for women during puberty or pregnancy
  • Misaligned teeth, rough edges or fillings, and unclean mouth appliances like braces or crowns.
  • Stress
  • Inadequate nutrition
  • Smoking
  • Certain illnesses and their medications
  • Genetic susceptibility to gum disease

This article includes information from the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mayo Clinic and the American Academy of Periodontology.

© Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. 2019

Woman with coffee mug in front of people exercising

Sun Protection for Every Age

by Lisa, posted in Articles
Three generations of people walking in the sun

Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson

Your skin changes as you age, and so do the ways you need to protect it from the sun. A baby’s skin, for instance, can be up to 30 percent thinner than an adult’s, and as we reach middle age and beyond, the skin can thin and become increasingly sensitive. And since sun exposure can, over time, lead to skin cancer and premature skin aging, it is important for people of all ages – from infants to the elderly – to take the proper steps to mitigate those risks.

Here’s how to protect yourself and loved ones of all ages from too much sun exposure.

Infants – Under six months, babies should be kept out of direct sunlight. Dress your baby in breathable clothing that covers the whole body and a hat. Consult your physician for sunscreen use in children six months.

Babies – Babies older than six months should still keep sun exposure to a minimum and should use broad-spectrum sunscreen (meaning it protects against UVA and UVB rays) when outdoors.

Toddlers – Be diligent about applying broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 every two hours with busy toddlers. Use water resistant formulas when your child is sweating or swimming.

School-age children – As kids go to school and participate in activities away from home, it is harder to make sure they are using sunscreen. Talk to children about sun safety at recess and during sports. Apply sunscreen at home and ask your child, teachers and coaches to make sure it is reapplied when they play outside.

Adults – Wearing sunscreen for outdoor activities is an obvious must. But because sun exposure can lead to skin aging and increases the risk of skin cancers, it’s also a good idea to wear sunscreen for everyday activities including driving in your car or walking the dog. To minimize the effects of long-term sun exposure, using a daily moisturizer with SPF is a good everyday protection.

Older adults – Our skin gets thinner, drier and more vulnerable as we age. Regularly using a broad-spectrum sunscreen when outdoors is a must, and long sleeves and wide-brimmed hats are a good protective measure as well.

©Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. 2016

Woman with coffee mug in front of people exercising

How Much Sugar Can I Eat?

by Lisa, posted in Articles

Small amounts of sugar are not harmful to the body and can help enhance the flavor of foods, but our bodies do not need sugars to function. Too much sugar can be harmful and increase your risk of obesity and heart disease. Sugars increase the number of calories in foods and give zero nutrients in return. 

When discussing sugars, it is important to note that there are two kinds of sugars that are in foods: naturally occurring and added sugars. Naturally occurring sugars are found in foods naturally, such as the sugars in fruits and milk. Added sugars are sugars or sweeteners, which are added to products either during preparation or processing. 

The American Heart Association suggests that women should have no more than 100 calories or 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day and men should limit their intake to no more than 150 calories or 9 teaspoons of added sugar per day. Reducing added sugar intake can help regulate weight and reduce the risk of obesity and heart disease.

Spotting added sugars in your food products can be tricky, here are a few common names for different types of added sugars: 

  • Brown sugar 
  • Corn sweetener
  • Corn syrup 
  • High fructose corn syrup 
  • Honey 
  • Sugar 
  • Molasses 
  • Syrup
  • Any ingredient ending in –ose (such as sucrose, fructose, lactose)

Here are some tips to start cutting down on the amount of sugar you eat a day:

  • Cut back on the sweetened beverages
    • Such as  soda, sweet tea and energy drinks
  • Look at the food label and choose products with less added sugar 
  • Add fruits to your meals instead of sugar
    • Add fresh or dried fruit to your oatmeal instead of sugar 
  • Try extracts such as almond or vanilla instead of adding sugar to recipes 
  • Reduce the servings that you consume
    • Add less sugar to your coffee, less syrup to your pancakes and add less sugar to your dessert recipes

Woman with coffee mug in front of people exercising

How to Cut Your Sodium Intake

by Lisa, posted in Articles

Sodium has many benefits in your body, such as controlling the fluid balance, and maintaining blood volume and blood pressure. However, having too much sodium in your diet can lead to raised blood pressure and can cause fluid retention. The American Heart Association recommends about 1,500 mg of sodium a day for adults, but on average, Americans tend to consume more than 3,400 mg a day. By simply cutting back your sodium intake by 1000 mg a day, you can drastically improve your overall health. 

Sodium and salt are two words that are usually used interchangeably, but are not the same thing. Sodium is a mineral that can be found naturally or added during processing. Salt is a combination of sodium and chloride. It is said that about 70% of the amount of sodium people eat actually comes from packaged, processed and restaurant foods, not from the table salt. In order to cut back on the amount of sodium consumed, try incorporating these tips into your daily routine: 

  • Reduce the amount of salty foods in your diet, look for low sodium products with under 140 mg per serving
  • Reduce the amount of salt you add during cooking 
  • Season your foods with spices, herbs or pepper rather than salt
  • Avoid foods that have 400 mg or more sodium because these foods are considered high in sodium
  • Try having more home-cooked meals
  • Avoid smoked, cured, salted or canned meats 
  • Avoid salted nuts 
  • Avoid mixes or boxed meals 
  • Use low sodium or no sodium can vegetables 
  • Select condiments that are reduced or low sodium 
  • Drain and rinse canned foods
  • You can cut the amount of sodium by around 40%

According to the American Heart Association the foods that contain the most salt in the American diet are: 

  • Breads and rolls 
  • Pizza
  • Sandwiches
  • Cold cuts and cured meats 
  • Soup 
  • Burritos and tacos 

This list may seem surprising, but many companies add sodium for preservation and enhancing flavor and texture. It is important to look at the labels to find the lowest sodium options to help improve your health.