General Health Articles

In the News: Cicadas Are Coming – Part I

It has been over 200 years since the last time that two groups of periodical cicadas have emerged at the same time… and it’s about to happen again.

While there are over 3,000 species of cicadas in the world, there are 7 different species in North America that emerge either every 13 years or every 17 years. But this May and June, Cicada Brood XIX (13-year cycle) and Brood XIII (17-year cycle) will surface at the same time. These two species have some of the largest populations, and together, will cover most of the eastern United States.

This article will focus on all things cicadas and will hopefully enlighten you on these interesting creatures.

Where can you find cicadas?

You are likely to find cicadas in places that are heavily populated with trees and shrubs that have been there for at least 13-17 years.

Are cicadas loud? 

That likely depends on how active they are. Some reports say that they can omit a noise that sounds like a siren, whine and/or a roar. You may hear the more in rural areas, than suburban areas. Cicadas are daytime insects, so you likely won’t hear them at night. 

Can cicadas bite or spread disease? 

Cicadas only feed on plants and trees. They do not bite or sting and don’t spread any diseases to humans, plants or animals. In the off chance that a cicada lands on you, it’s likely not on purpose as they aren’t interested in hanging out on people and won’t stick around long. 

Can you eat cicadas? 

Surprisingly, you can eat cicadas and there are lots of recipes online. 

(Continued in Part II…)

Healthy Living: Foods that Fight Your Kidneys

Everyone knows that your kidneys are two vital organs in your body. Located in your lower back, your kidneys work as blood filtration, keep a balance between minerals, eliminate waste from blood and water, excrete waste materials from the body through the urinary tract, produce hormones, and more. 

These organs are very important and without both kidneys, humans would not survive much longer. While they are vital organs, they are very prone to many diseases caused by food items, hereditary diseases, blood pressure, diabetes, and more. If food is not damaging your kidneys directly, it will damage them indirectly. 

That’s why is it super important to maintain a kidney-healthy diet

This includes eating all kinds of healthy, fresh, herbal, homemade, and farm-fresh foods.

The following foods should be avoided for the health of your kidneys:

• Processed food
• Salt or sodium food items
• Beets
• Tomatoes and tomato seeds
• Fast food
• Sugary foods
• Alcohol
• Lentils and beans
• Junk food
• Frozen food, ready to cook food
• Artificially flavored juices
• Potatoes

Sleep 101: Eat Your Way to Better ZZZs

According to Men’s Health Magazine, good old mom may have had it all wrong when she offered us a glass of warm milk to help aide our sleeping.  The protein in milk could actually boost alertness rather than calm it.

Instead the magazine’s experts offer the following snacks to induce “feel-good relaxation chemicals” thereby calming your nerves and slowing your brain down towards relaxation: nonfat popcorn, oatmeal with sliced bananas, one cup of plain yogurt with two tablespoons mixed nuts, sesame seeds, pretzels, 4-oz. glass of unsweetened cherry juice, and red bell peppers. 

So, pass on the glass of warm milk tonight and opt for any of the above snacks for that peaceful night’s sleep.   Good night!

Healthy Living Your Skin Cancer Risk Revealed

Here are some surprising clues that could mean that you are more apt to being diagnosed with skin cancer than others…

Clue #1:  You wear flip-flops often.  If you wear flip-flops most of the spring and summer, your feet are prone to more sun exposure and sun damage than those who wear socks and shoes. 

Clue #2:  You wear baseball hats.  While baseball hats protect your head from sun damage, your ears are constantly exposed and are often overlooked when your skin is checked for signs of skin cancer. 

Clue #3:  You are a male.  Whether it’s habits, hormones, or genes, or even a combination of these three, men have three times as many squamous cancer cells and twice as many basal cancer cells as women.  Also, white men over the age of 50 have the highest incidence of melanoma. 

Clue #4:  You have dark skin.  While skin with more pigment has a natural shield against UV rays, many African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Indians get a false sense of security and 

typically do not pay much attention to protecting their skin from these harmful rays.  Skin cancer is also detected much later in dark skinned people, therefore making it harder to treat. 

Clue #5:  You live in the South or in the Mountains.  Rates of skin cancer are obviously higher in places that receive more sunlight, like in the South or in the Mountains.  Altitude is also a factor as UV radiation increases about 4 to 5 percent for every 1,000 feet above sea level. 

Clue #6: You are a runner, cyclist, or swimmer.  The more miles men and women run the greater their chance of acquiring skin cancer.  The same goes for swimmers and cyclists who spend countless hours out in the climate. 

Clue #7:  You have a lot of moles.  The average Caucasian has 30 moles – relatively round spots that are brown, red or pink.  But the moles that are asymmetrical, with raggedy borders, discoloration or changing size, are the ones that are more likely to develop into melanoma.  People over the age of 20 with more than 100 moles or people under the age of 20 with more than 50 moles are also at risk. 

In the News: All About Glaucoma – Part II

(continued from Part I…)

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

To diagnose glaucoma complete eye examination is recommended which involves measuring eye pressure, inspecting the eye’s drainage angle, examining the optic nerve, testing vision, getting measurements of optic nerve, and measuring the thickness of cornea.

How is glaucoma treated?

Treatment aims at reducing the intraocular pressure and preventing further damage to the optic nerves. Intraocular pressure can be reduced by increasing the drainage of excess eye fluid or reducing its production through medications.

Is there a diet you should follow or foods you should avoid if you have glaucoma?

Foods to eat:

• Iron rich foods such as spinach
• Vitamin A containing foods such as sweet potatoes, carrots, mangoes and milk
• Protein rich foods such as eggs, milk
• Zinc-rich foods such as green peas, eggs, wheat germ, chickpeas, oyster, red meat, poultry and certain seafood
• Foods rich in vitamin C like green pepper, citrus fruits and tomatoes 

Foods to avoid:

• Foods with trans fatty acids like cookies, cakes and french fries
• Foods with high saturated fats like full fat meat (beef)
• Foods/drinks with caffeine like coffee
• Avoid alcohol