General Health Articles

Grilling 101: Grilling Safety

The summer months and grilling always seem to go hand-in-hand. Because this is a popular cooking method in the summertime, experts remind us that there are ways to grill safely and to avoid cookout germs.

• When handling raw meat, make sure you separate it from other foods. Wash your hands immediately after handling raw meats.
• Throw out marinades/sauces that may have come in contact with raw meats.
• Clean your grill and check all tools before cooking with them.
• Use a food thermometer and check the temperatures that each meat should be cooked until (can be found using a Google search)
• Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking.

In the News Vitamin D Deficiency – Part II

(Continued from Part I…)

Depression - If you’re familiar with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), you may not be surprised to hear that vitamin D deficiency may be linked to a higher risk of depression. After all, the nickname for vitamin D is the sunshine vitamin, and that’s not just because people may generate much of the vitamin D they need with sun exposure. There is research evidence that shows a relationship between mood and vitamin D levels, where deficient vitamin D levels are related to depression. 

Risk of Schizophrenia - Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder that affects between 0.25 and 0.64 percent of American adults, according to the NIMH. Symptoms of schizophrenia, which commonly appear between ages 16 and 30, include hallucinations, incoherent speech, withdrawal from others, and trouble focusing or paying attention.People who are vitamin D deficient may be twice as likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia compared with people with sufficient vitamin D levels.

Dementia - A study in the journal Neurology found that moderate and severe vitamin D deficiency in older adults was associated with a doubled risk for some forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia involves a decline in thinking, behavior, and memory that negatively affects daily life. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia. 

Diabetes - Research found that when vitamin D is deficient, many cellular processes in the body begin to break down, and this sets the stage for the onset of diseases such as diabetes. 

Prostate cancer - There is some evidence that vitamin D deficiency may play a role in prostate health. One study found a link between low blood levels of vitamin D and aggressive prostate cancer in European American and African American men.

In the News Vitamin D Deficiency – Part I

It’s summertime and the primary source of vitamin D can be found if you step outside and look up into the sky – the sun! The sun helps synthesize vitamin D in the skin promoting the growth of strong bones and cognitive health.

As beneficial as vitamin D can be to our bodies, a lack of vitamin D can lead to many health issues.

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency include bone pain, muscle weakness, fatigue and mood changes. People with darker skin, those with certain underlying health conditions or who are taking medications, and those who live far away from the Equator, may be more prone to having low vitamin D.

Not getting enough vitamin D may raise your risk for other diseases and conditions – some of them life threatening.

Here are some potential complications linked to vitamin D deficiency.

Respiratory Illness – Research shows that vitamin D may help protect people from respiratory illness. One study examined the impact of vitamin D on respiratory infections including pneumonia, bronchitis, and sinusitis. Researchers found that people who took vitamin D were 12 percent less likely to develop respiratory illness compared with people who did not take the vitamin. 

Osteoperosis - One of vitamin D’s primary roles is to maintain bone health.  Low levels of vitamin D lead to low bone calcium stores, increasing the risk of fractures. A vitamin D deficiency may put people at risk for osteoporosis, which happens when new bone doesn’t generate at the same pace as the loss of old bone. Low vitamin D levels decrease calcium absorption, and calcium absorption is important for bone health.

(Continued in Part II…)

Healthy Living Making Mondays Work for You

You have seen all the memes on social media that wage war on a “case of the Mondays” and declare that it is the worst day of the week.  But, did you know that Monday is the most critical day of the entire work week?

Experts say that because you took a two-day break from the trials and tribulations of your work week, Monday is your chance to make the entire week a memorable one.

Not everyone hates Mondays, though.  Many of the world’s most influential and successful people welcome Monday’s with open arms and look forward to starting their week anew.

If you are looking to make your work week a more profitable one, starting with Monday, then follow what many successful leaders do:

• Wake up early.
• Eat a healthy breakfast.
• Arrive at work early.
• Clear your desk and desktop.
• Carve out time for unexpected projects and tasks.
• Greet your team and boss.
• Update your to-do list and weekly goals.
• Visualize the success of the week.
• Screen emails for urgent requests.
• Tackle the tough challenges first.
• Make an extra effort to smile.
• Add a “blanket of humanity” to your emails. (Reread them for friendliness and clarity before you send them.)
• Be able and learn to say “No”.
• Stay focused.
• Remember that there is “Tuesday”.

In the News: Cicadas Are Coming – Part II

(Continued from Part I…)

While you can eat cicadas, some people should avoid eating them like:

• People with shellfish allergies. Cicadas are considered “land shrimp” as they are related to shellfish.
• People who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Cicadas accumulate mercury, which can harm an infant’s brain.
• Anyone with gout or at risk for gout. Cicadas can cause gout flare-ups. 

What do cicadas taste like?

Some people say that they have a nutty flavor. Others call them gushers, but not in a good way.

Should I fear cicadas?

Cicadas are biologically fascinating, have no negative impact on people, and are important to the ecosystem.

If that doesn’t ease things for you, keep in mind that they typically only emerge amongst long-term vegetation in late spring and early summer. If you are still afraid of encountering cicadas, then it is best to avoid the areas where they are known to emerge during this time frame.

How long will they stick around?

Cicadas will be around for roughly four to six weeks. During that time, they will mate, lay eggs, and feed. Then they will either die of cicada old age or they will be eaten by predators.