Author: Staff (Page 58 of 158)

The Financial Toll Of Caring For Those With Alzheimer’s

March 5, 2012 / Staff

Although no one wants to look at caring for an ill loved one as a burden, however, there is no denying the overwhelming financial cost involved.

Unpaid caregivers are a huge part of the economy which is growing every year with the increase in Alzheimer’s and dementia cases as baby boomers age.

There is an urgent need to address this national emergency.

Caring for a family member with the personality-draining disease can take a hefty financial and emotional toll. Nearly 15 million people fall into the role of unpaid caregiver for those sick with dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Add it all up, and it comes to about 17 billion hours of unpaid care valued at $202 billion in 2010 alone.
So to help with the staggering cost of care, the Obama Administration has included $26 million in the proposed 2013 budget. That money will go to education, outreach and support for families affected by the disease.

Health Care Policy, Medicare, Quality Control, Resources, Wellness

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Melanoma Risk Reduced With Vitamin A

March 5, 2012 / Staff

Vitamin A may guard against melanoma, especially in women.

This is great news for those who at risk to skin cancer due to genetics or lifestyle, offering another tool in the arsenal against cancer.

There are many great food sources from which to get vitamin A including but, not limited to, sweet potatoes, carrots, beef liver, and more.

Supplements can be effective, as well

Melanoma is the sixth leading cause of cancer in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. About 76,000 cases of melanomas will be diagnosed this year, based on recent estimates.
In the study, researchers examined about 69,000 men and women, and after about six years, 566 had developed melanoma.
Among the 59,000 people in the study who had never taken vitamin A supplements, there were 506 cases of melanoma, while among the 5,800 people who were currently taking it and had used it regularly over the past 10 years, there were 28 cases.

Research, Resources, Wellness

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Is There Something Better Than Sugar?

March 4, 2012 / Staff

Five natural sweeteners that may be better than sugar include Sucanant, Agave Nectar, Honey, Coconut Sugar, and Stevia Extract.

If you have a sweet tooth that just can not be tamed, perhaps alternatives to white and brown sugar would benefit your health.

Although there is no great calorie difference, except with Stevia, there are more nutrients and trace minerals to be found in less processed sweeteners.

Also, there are clear health benefits to honey which surpass them all.

However, there are those who will say that sugar is sugar and it is best to simply ween yourself off of all things sweet.

Read for yourself to see which is the best for you.

For a less-processed alternative with small amounts of nutrients in it as well, look for sucanat, which is simply dehydrated sugar cane juice. Sucanat (an abbreviation for sugar-cane-natural) has a stronger molasses flavor than refined white sugar and retains all of the nutrients found in natural sugar cane juice, including iron, calcium, vitamin B6 and potassium. Though, as New York University nutritional scientist Marion Nestle points out: “The amounts of trace minerals in raw sugar are so small that they are nutritionally insignificant.”

Nutrition, Quality Control, Research

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The Importance Of Moving

March 4, 2012 / Staff

Staying active is the best way to improve and maintain your health.

Doctors and researches were never quite sure exactly why it was important but now it is more clear.

During the three days of inactivity, volunteers’ blood sugar levels spiked significantly after meals, with the peaks increasing by about 26 percent compared with when the volunteers were exercising and moving more. What’s more, the peaks grew slightly with each successive day.
This change in blood sugar control after meals “occurred well before we could see any changes in fitness or adiposity,” or fat buildup, due to the reduced activity, Dr. Thyfault says. So the blood sugar swings would seem to be a result, directly, of the volunteers not moving much.

It is important to keep active even if only in short bursts if that is all that is possible.

5 minute breaks to do jumping jacks, run up and down the stairs or do laps around the house add up when you squeeze them into your daily schedule.

Find the time to get the 10,000 steps recommended by the American Heart Association into your day.

These 5 miles a day could save your health.

Quality Control, Research, Wellness

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Children are Still Consuming Too Much Sugar

March 3, 2012 / Staff

It is in the home, not schools or at social gatherings where children are being inundated with sweeteners.

Researchers have found that although beverages do account for a large amount of sugar in kids’ diets it is the hidden sugars in foods such as tomato sauce, muffins, cereals and everyday household items.

These sugar calories add up.

Simple carbohydrates such as pasta and breads also contribute to sugar in the diet.

With all the changes being made to food and nutritional guidelines in schools, it seems like the place where children come in contact with the most sugar is at home.

Almost everything we buy has sugar as an ingredient.

Over the course of the day children can consume a week’s worth of sweeteners.

Planning meals and reading labels is the best way to avoid unwanted added ingredients.

Eating meals as a family and introducing fresh fruits and vegetables also help to satisfy sugar cravings.