HaveHealthNow Blog by Wellness Mike

These foods can give your heart a better chance  (BPT) - What's the biggest threat to our health? It isn't cancer or even accidents, but heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, one in four deaths in the U.S. is caused by heart disease, which includes heart attack and stroke. This statistic is scary, but the good news is, there is something powerful we can do to prevent us from becoming a victim to this disease. Even if you are one of the 47 percent of Americans living with a major risk factor, there are preventive measures you can take for a healthier heart, says registered dietitian nutritionist, Dawn Jackson Blatner. All you have to do is embrace some simple lifestyle changes starting with your diet. "Food is quite literally one of the best medicines out there when it comes to improving our health," says Blatner. "Studies show us repeatedly that a balanced diet including heart-healthy unsaturated fats, along with multiple servings of f

Every year in the U.S., there are more colds than people. Annually, nearly 320 million Americans catch 1 billion colds, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Seven in 10 people will turn to over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to help them feel better - and many of these medicines may contain acetaminophen. In fact, acetaminophen is one of the most commonly used drug ingredients to reduce pain and fever, found in more than 600 OTC and prescription (Rx) medicines. When used as directed, it is safe and effective. However, taking more than the maximum daily dose (4,000 milligrams) is an overdose, and can lead to liver damage. "Family members play an important role as caregivers when administering medicines safely," says Mark Gibbons, director of programs and operations at Caregiver Action Network, a member of the Acetaminophen Awareness Coalition (AAC). "It's important to double check all medicine labels to be sure you're not accidentally doubling up o

You want to be healthier, right? But try as you might, it always seems like something's standing in your way. Time and money are two of the largest obstacles, and you may think it's impossible to improve your health without a significant time or financial investment. The good news is, however, that's not true. Even the smallest changes can have a big impact on your health, and you can start improving your wellness today with these six simple steps. 1. Take a stand while so many others are having a seat. Did you know the average person sits about 13 hours a day? Whether eating, working, driving or relaxing, that's a lot of sitting. Stand up for your health by resolving to get up at least once an hour. Walk to the bathroom, the water fountain or to ask your question in person instead of via email - you'll be healthier for it. 2. Run in place....any place . Effective exercise can happen without the gym membership. Blue Cross and Blue Shield surprised customers at

I know it is sometimes confusing to figure out how much exercise we, as adults, really need.  So I pulled some good information from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) that I thought would be good to share. Physical activity is anything that gets your body moving. According to the  2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans , you need to do two types of physical activity each week to improve your health–aerobic and muscle-strengthening. For Important Health Benefits Adults need at least: 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of   moderate-intensity aerobic activity  (i.e., brisk walking) every week  and muscle-strengthening activities  on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle groups (legs, hips, back, abdomen, chest, shoulders, and arms).  1 hour and 15 minutes (75 minutes) of  vigorous-intensity aerobic activity  (i.e., jogging or running) every week  and   muscle-strengthening activities  on 2 or more days a week that work all major muscle grou

Plants contain more than  100,000 phytonutrients , one of the reasons  nine servings of fruits and vegetables a day  are recommended. Some phytonutrients are fat soluble and, thus, need  fat  to be properly absorbed. Certain phytonutrients are also better absorbed from  cooked , rather than raw, food. Phytonutrients may in part account for the benefits of whole plant foods in  cancer prevention . These nutrients are an important part of the diet, particularly because they cannot be made by the body or obtained from animal products. Phytonutrients are often distinct from other nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats and carbohydrates. One of the few, well-documented instances that points to the health benefits of phytonutrients is the cancer reducing properties of some fruits and vegetables. Extensive research indicates that those with diets rich in fruits and vegetables have a significantly lower incidence of multiple types of cancers. In fact, the link between phytonu

Much of the following facts are from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).  Daily fluid intake (total water) is defined as the amount of water consumed from foods, plain drinking water, and other beverages. Daily fluid intake recommendations vary by age, sex, pregnancy, and breastfeeding status. Although there is no recommendation for how much plain water adults and youth should drink daily, there are recommendations  for daily total water intake that can be obtained from a variety of beverages and foods.   Although daily fluid intake can come from food and beverages, plain drinking water is one good way of getting fluids as it has zero calories.   The following recommendations come from The National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine : The Food and Nutrition Board released the sixth in a series of reports presenting dietary reference values for the intake of nutrients by Americans and Canadians. This new report establishes nutrient recommend

     Everyone knows aerobic exercise gets the heart pumping and lifting weights keeps muscles strong. But when it comes to keeping the brain healthy, most people are unsure what to do. As you age, brain health and maintaining memory functions becomes a top concern. Turns out, these issues may begin sooner than you think. "We tend to think about memory decline as an older person's issue, but that's not the case at all," says Dr. Aimee Gould Shunney, a licensed naturopathic doctor specializing in women's health and family medicine. "There was a study published in 2012 in the British Medical Journal that examined cognitive function in people age 45 to 70. The researchers did not expect it, but they found evidence of cognitive decline in the 45-year-old participants as well as the older participants." She notes there are two basic pathological processes that cause degeneration of the brain: oxidative stress and inflammation. Basically, the standard Am