Keep Your Berries Fresh Longer

HOW TO PREVENT MOLD IN

BLUEBERRIES, STRAWBERRIES - ALL BERRIES!

We love to buy fresh fruit, but every day the berries start to go bad too quickly and end up in the garbage.  Not anymore, thanks to this great tip.

The key to preventing moldy berries...wash them with vinegar.

When you get your berries home, prepare a mixture of one part vinegar (white or apple cider probably work best) and ten parts water. Dump the berries into the mixture and swirl around. Drain, rinse if you want (though the mixture is so diluted you can't taste the vinegar,) and pop in the fridge. The vinegar kills any mold spores and other bacteria that might be on the surface of the fruit, and voila! Raspberries will last a week or more, and strawberries go almost two weeks without getting moldy and soft. So go forth and stock up on those pricey little gems, knowing they'll stay fresh as long as it takes you to eat them.

Dr. Seuss Nails It!

Dr. Seuss: Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You. 

FLU SHOT --GO TO COSTCO!!

I get my flu shot at Walgreen's yesterday for $31. Today, i was at Costco and their flu shots are only $17!!! No question where to go!! Get yours now before they run out.

IS IT THE FLU OR A COLD??

Is It A Cold Or the Flu? How to Tell the Difference

Here's a chart to help you figure out which one you might have. Either way, doctors advise getting an annual flu shot.

• By John Crandall
• Email the author
• 12:01 am

 Email

 Print

  Comment

    

 Upload Photos and Videos

As the influenza epidemic sweeps through the country, you may be wondering if it’s the flu or a cold causing your sniffles.

One major difference between the two is that there is a vaccine for the flu, a disease that can have life-threatening complications

“An annual flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over the age of six months,” said a spokesperson for the Los Alamitos Medical Center. “It’s especially important for those at risk of developing serious complications from the flu to receive the vaccine.” 

Unfortunately, there’s no vaccine for the common cold, but you can figure out whether you’ve been infected by the human rhinovirus (the cold) or influenza.

Both are highly contagious and have similar symptoms and seasons.

If you haven't been vaccinated and feel sick, or if you have been vaccinated—the flu shot isn’t always 100 percent effective—and you feel sick, here's a chart that may help you tell the difference between cold and flu.

Flu	Common Cold
Sudden onset of symptoms. Can be severe.	Mild symptoms
Fever between 102° F and 104° F. Lasts three to four days	Fever below 102 degrees
Muscle aches	Some aching muscles
Headache	Headache
Sore throat	Loss of appetite
Very tired and weak. Some people feel extremely exhausted	Stuffy nose
Cough that can be severe	Chills and sweats.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (more common in children than adults)

Chart Courtesy Los Alamitos Medical Center 

You can get the flu the same way you get the cold—the virus lands on surfaces like counters, elevators buttons, stair rails or telephones. People get the virus on their hands and can then infect themselves when they touch their eyes, nose or mouth.

According to the Los Alamitos Medical Center, some people are more at risk of developing complications of the flu. These include young children and people older than 50. Other at-risk groups include:

• Residents of nursing homes or chronic care facilities
• People with chronic disorders such as diabetes, heart, lung or kidney disorders
• People with a weakened immune system including those with HIV, leukemia or taking medications following an organ transplant
• Women who are pregnant and in their second or third trimester
• People who work in a healthcare facility

If you fall into one of these groups and develop symptoms of the flu, call your doctor immediately. If you’re not one of those people in the at-risk group, the best advice is to get plenty of rest, drink lots of liquid and avoid using alcohol and tobacco.

You can take over-the-counter medicines to relieve symptoms such as fever, muscle aches, nasal congestion and cough.

CAUTION: Do not give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, especially a fever. In some cases, this has caused a serious complication known as Reye’s syndrome.

If you develop complications including trouble breathing, a very high fever, a severe sore throat, a cough that produces a lot of green or yellow mucus, or you feel faint, call your doctor.

Anti-viral medications may be prescribed for cases of the flu. These medicines may shorten the time you feel ill. Some of these medications only work with certain types of influenza viruses. To be effective, these need to be taken no later than 24 to 48 hours after you first develop symptoms.

Physical Activity and Quality of Life with Arthritis

Physical Activity Adherence and Quality of Life among Individuals with Arthritis

By Kelsey Stamps

Austin, S., Qu, H., & Shewchuk, R. M. (2011). Association between adherence to physical activity guidelines and health-related quality of life among individuals why physician-diagnosed arthritis. Quality of Life Research, 21, 1347-1357.

Purpose:
Physical activity is an important, non-pharmacological intervention to diminish pain and discomfort and to improve health-related quality of life in individuals with one of the most prevalent chronic conditions, arthritis. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is an indicator of physical and mental health, and a population’s chronic disease load. It evaluates the impact of arthritis, which is a leading cause of disability both in the U.S. and internationally. Adults with arthritis have poor HRQOL and, on average, report four more physically unhealthy days and 2.3 more mentally unhealthy days (within a 30 day period), compared to those without arthritis. After assuming that HRQOL for adults with arthritis would be predicted by adherence to physical activity guidelines controlling for health system factor (physicians’ recommendations for physical activity), pre-disposing, enabling, and need-relation factors, the authors hypothesized that individuals who did not adhere to recommended levels of physical activity would report more physically and mentally unhealthy days compared with those who did, controlling for physicians’ recommendations, predisposing, enabling, and need-related factors.

Conclusion: 
Individuals who did not adhere to the physical activity guidelines had more physically and mentally unhealthy days. By engaging in low- to moderate-intensity physical activity of approximately 150 minutes per week, evidence shows that individuals with arthritis had some degree of relief from pain, improved their physical function, and delayed onset of disability. The 150 minutes per week consisted of five 30-minute sessions. However, this study proved that adherence to physical activity is low in this population and interventions are needed to connect adults with arthritis to participate in physical activity. It is recommended that even if adults with other co-morbidities cannot meet at least 150 minutes per week they should still be physically active as much as possible whenever their conditions and abilities allow. 

YOQUATIX Rocks!!

Skye La Fevre of Heart and Soul Yoga has joined Cynthia Shorteed of Aqua Flex'n Stretch at the Providence Tarzana Outpatient Therapy Center in Encino for YOQUATIX! Participants get 45 minutes of restorative land yoga PLUS 45 minutes of restorative aqua. We're talking the ultimate in restoration and relaxation. Check it out....first class is half price through January! RSVP's required.

GO BANANAS!!!

A professor at CCNY for a physiological psych class told his class about bananas. He said the expression 'going bananas' is from the effects of bananas on the brain. Read on:

Never, put your banana in the refrigerator!!!  This is interesting.  After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in the same way again.

 

Bananas contain three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.  PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.  Anemia : High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.  Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school ( England ) were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.  Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.  Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey.. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.  Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

 

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.  Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.  Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute ofPsychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and chips.. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.  Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.  Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a 'cooling' fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. InThailand , for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

 

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood Enhancer tryptophan.  Smoking &Tobacco Use: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.  Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.  Strokes: According to research in The New England Journal of Medicine, eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!  Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around So maybe it's time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, 'A banana a day keeps the doctor away!'