Do You Suffer From an Eating Disorder?

Posted on September 30, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Almost four million Americans suffer from an eating disorder, due to a variety of different causes and reasons.

Eating disorders, like anorexia, bulimia, or binge eating, are illnesses in which people experience severe disturbances in their eating behaviors, thoughts and emotions. People with eating disorders typically become obsessed with food and their body weight.

There is no single cause of an eating disorder, as genetics and environment both play a large role. Onset often occurs in adolescence when pressure to diet or lose weight can be a trigger.

Some signs of an eating disorder can include:

. Talking excessively about being fat, weight and calories.

. Changes in eating patterns, such as limiting choices to low-calorie foods or occasional binge eating of calorie-dense foods.

. Excessively exercising.

. Inducing vomiting after meals, or abusing laxatives, diuretics and diet pills.

. Being self-conscious about eating behaviors.

. Eating alone.

Identifying signs can be challenging, and those affected may sometimes deny they have a problem or feel ashamed. Treatment and recovery takes the combined efforts of family and friends, as well as medical and mental health professionals. Treatment helps the affected individuals to change what they do, normalize their eating and reframe the thoughts that sustain eating disordered behaviors.

Support your friend or relative by accompanying them to their appointment with a provider can be helpful. Food is central to many social activities and the practice of eating meals with supportive friends and family is an important step in recovery.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Heart Healthy Pumpkin Spice Smoothie Recipe

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Ingredients

Directions

Into a blender, add pumpkin, yogurt, milk, oats, honey, pumpkin pie spice, and ice cubes.
Blend until smooth and frothy, about 1 minute. Pour into a glass and serve.

Additional Tips

Cooking Tip: Keeping the can of pumpkin in the fridge before using isn’t necessary, but helps make a colder smoothie.

Keep it Healthy: Make sure to buy 100% pure pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling or mix, which looks similar but can have added sugar.

Tip: Plain nonfat Greek yogurt, which has more of a tangy taste as well as more protein, can be substituted for the light plain yogurt.

Nutritional Info

Nutritional Analysis: Per serving
Calories Per Serving: 199
Total Fat: 1.5 g
Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
Trans Fat: 0.0 g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3 g
Cholesterol: 3.3 mg
Sodium: 106 mg
Carbohydrates: 38 g
Fiber: 6 g
Sugars: 26 g
Protein: 11 g

Dietary Exchanges
1 fat-free milk, 1 vegetable, 1 other carbohydrate

Price Per Serving
$1.63

The Benefits of Yoga

Posted on September 24, 2015 by Sage Robinson

September 30 is National Women’s Health and Fitness Day. If you’re looking for a new exercise with many health benefits, why not try yoga?

Developed in India thousands of years ago, yoga is a form of exercise that has gained popularity tremendously over the past 50 years.

Yoga teaches increased flexibility by learning how to stretch your muscles. This can help a person improve mobility, feel less tired and improve their posture.

Some of the other benefits of yoga are:

• Improved immunity

• Lessen severity of migraines

• Improved sexual performance

• Better sleep

• Improved eating habits

Yoga can help you to feel calmer and more relaxed due to techniques that focus on breathing.

Yoga has also been shown to lower blood pressure and heart rate. This can help people who have been diagnosed with heart disease and who either have had a stroke or are at risk of having a stroke.

Yoga can be practiced by just about anyone, anywhere, not just people who are in good physical condition. When looking for yoga classes, find an instructor who has proper training and who is certified to teach the class. It usually takes a few weeks to start seeing the benefits, but you will be surprised at how effective yoga can be.

#MondayMotivation — 10 Minute Heart Health Workout

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Sage Robinson

According to the American Heart Association, 2200 Americans die of heart disease every single day. Help your heart get a boost and prevent becoming a part of this growing statistic- Check out this quick 10 minute workout for a healthy heart.

Be One in a Million Hearts – Support the Million Hearts Campaign

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Preventing 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017 requires work and a commitment to change from all of us. There are steps each of us—and our organizations—can take to reach this shared goal. Find out how you can be one in a Million Hearts® and make a positive difference in your family, community, and nation.

Try the Heart360 app to record and track your heart health online here.

If you’d like to make an appointment with a cardiologist to discuss your heart health and what treatment options are right for you, please call Flushing Hospital Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Center for an appointment at 718-670-5486.

The Best High Fiber Foods For Diabetics

Posted on September 9, 2015 by Sage Robinson

People with Type 2 diabetes need to control both their weight and sugar levels. Consuming a diet high in fiber is the best way to accomplish those goals.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), many high-fiber foods are naturally low in sugar, fat and calories helping diabetics reduce the risk for diabetes complications. The FDA recommends an average daily intake of 25g of dietary fiber for adults. Some of the best sources of fiber include:

. High fiber fruit like berries, citrus fruits, as well as Asian and domestic pears.

. Orange vegetables such as sweet potato, pumpkin, squash and carrots.

. Green vegetables like cooked collards, turnip greens, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, spinach and artichokes.

. Whole grains such as whole wheat pasta, brown rice and barley.

. Beans including soybeans, navy, pinto black and kidney beans, split and black-eyed peas and lentils.

A “Honey” of a Home Remedy

Posted on September 2, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Honey and cinnamon have become indispensable ingredients in so many ways, not only because of their delicious flavor, but also because of their numerous benefits.

The tasty combo has been used for thousands of years to add extra flavor to food, but if you have caught a summer cold and are coughing intensely, honey and cinnamon is a delicious, nutritious and effective all-natural cough syrup.

Ingredients:

One cup of honey

Three tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice

One teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 cup of lukewarm water.

Slowly mix the lemon juice with the honey and then gradually add the warm water and then take one or two teaspoons of this homemade cough syrup before going to bed, to relieve the symptoms of cough without experiencing any side effects.

Fact Friday: Why Do We Snore?

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Sage Robinson

What do half of all Americans do, but very few admit to, partly because they are unaware that they are doing it? The answer is snore.

Snoring occurs when the flow of air is partially obstructed in some way while we sleep. As air flows past relaxed tissue in the throat, the resulting vibrating sound is snoring. Snoring can take place for a variety of reasons, including:

• The anatomy of your mouth – Having an elongated soft palate or uvula can narrow the opening from the nose to the throat

• Being overweight – Those who are overweight have extra, bulky throat tissue that may narrow the airways

• Obstructed nasal airways – Allergies, a nasal infection or a deviated septum can all contribute to snoring

• Alcohol consumption – Drinking alcohol before bed can relax muscles in the tongue and throat can obstruct the airways

• Sleep apnea – This is a serious condition when your throat tissues partially or completely block your airway, preventing your from breathing

Unless you have an upset spouse inform you that you are snoring, you may be unaware that you have a problem. Look out for the following symptoms if you suspect you are snoring:

• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Sore throat
• Restless sleep
• Chest pain at night
• High blood pressure

To determine the cause of your snoring, your doctor will review your signs and symptoms, review your medical history, and perform an examination. Your doctor may request an x-ray or other imaging tests to check the structure of your airway. To determine is sleep apnea is the reason for your snoring, a sleep study to monitor brain waves, breathing and heart rate, and blood oxygen levels may also be ordered.

Lifestyle changes including losing weight, avoiding consuming alcohol before bed and changing your sleep position by either raising your head or sleeping on your side can reduce the liklihood of snoring. Other aids, such as nasal strips, form fitting mouth pieces, and short term decongestants for allergies or infections can also be helpful.

If these efforts prove unsuccessful, there are a variety of surgical and non-surgical interventions that your doctor could recommend. One of the most common therapies is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which involves wearing a pressurized mask that pumps air through your airways while you sleep.

What are the Benefits of Juice Cleanses?

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Sage Robinson

Juicing or juice cleanses are growing in popularity as more people are using this practice as a way to lose weight or improve their health. Juice bars are popping up everywhere as the demand for freshly-made and all-natural juices increase. There are a few advantages that can be achieved by juicing.

Some advantages of juicing include:

May be an easier way for some to obtain the daily fruits and vegetables that are essential in maintaining a healthy diet. Many people find it more convenient and less time consuming to drink fruits and vegetables instead of eating them.
May help in promoting weight loss- if it is done correctly and the body is not deprived of vital nutrients and fiber.

There also disadvantages associated with all-juice diets. Disadvantages include:

An increase in LDL cholesterol. An all-juice diet for a prolonged period of time is not recommended as studies have shown that it may increase LDL cholesterol levels. Depriving the body of whole foods that are rich in nutrients could also weaken its ability to fight infections and function properly.
Juicing can prove dangerous for individuals with chronic health conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease. High levels of fructose, which is the sugar found in fruits can elevate blood sugar levels. Excessive juicing can cause high levels of potassium and minerals to build up in the blood- this can become hazardous if one has kidney disease.
Juicing may not be the healthiest or most effective way to lose weight as your body may think it is starving and lower its metabolic rate. If your body is being deprived of the daily recommended caloric intake it could begin to burn muscle tissue instead of fat to provide energy, causing the loss of muscle mass.

If you choose to juice, consult your physician, especially if you have chronic health conditions and juice in moderation. Juicing can be beneficial if it is done properly and is supplemented with nutrient-rich whole foods. It is recommended that a glass of juice can be used to substitute one meal for example breakfast or lunch for the day. Most healthcare practitioners caution that juicing should not surpass the duration of a few days.

The History of Contact Lenses

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Sage Robinson

It’s Contact Lens Health Week. Do you know the history behind the contact lens?

Contact lenses are so common today that people don’t give them a second thought, but did you know that the concept for contact lenses goes all the way back to Leonardo DaVinci who described them back in 1508? Experiments over the next centuries yielded little success until the late 1800s when German scientists devised a prototype made from a thin piece of glass.

In the early 1900s, it became possible to make a mold of the entire eye and this helped to make lenses fit better. Plastics were developed in the 1950s that allowed the lens to be made thinner and with an even better fit. By 1960, Bausch and Lomb developed a technique to cast hydrogel, a plastic material that could be molded and shaped when wet, allowing for the production of high quality, mass produced lenses. Today’s lenses are much more comfortable than the lenses made even 20 years ago. They can be worn for long periods of time and they let the eye to breathe which earlier versions couldn’t allow for.

Learn how to protect your eyes and care for your contact lenses at CDC.org.