Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Could blueberries prevent Alzheimer’s disease? They’re one of the foods specified in a new study outlining a diet that seems to reduce the devastating disease. The MIND Diet, developed by nutritional epidemiologists at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s by as much as 53 percent in adults who followed the plan rigorously and about 35 percent in those who followed it moderately well, according to a study published   March 19 in  Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. Mediterranean dieters, meet DASH dieters The diet, developed by nutritionist Martha Clare Morris, PhD,…

It’s no secret that a good night’s sleep is essential to living a healthy life, but it’s not always easy to get in those suggested eight hours. If you’re a part of the 60 percent of Americans who just can’t get to sleep, try one of these nine tips to fall asleep. The list includes ideas you probably haven’t tried, including doing a headstand or eating almond butter. I’m always in for trying advice when includes eating almond butter! Do you have a unique tip for falling asleep faster? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

It’s easy to ignore our legs. They’ve been hidden under tights, pants, jeans and yoga pants for the past five months, but it’s about time for them to re-emerge in springy skirts or shorts. Even if you’ve ignored your legs all winter, you still have time to get ready for warmer weather. Here are a  few good tips  to keep your legs looking good. Moisturizing after the shower and taking a walk  during your lunch break are two easy ways to start caring for your legs. In addition to these tips, we suggest starting exercises to tone your legs. Check…

No one wants to think about it: An accident or other health catastrophe leaves you or a loved one incapacitated, and someone has to make a life or death decision. It’s natural to want to put that conversation – do you or don’t you want life support in the event of the unthinkable? – off as long as possible, says Brian Jones, director of hospice and palliative care for St. Elizabeth Healthcare. But no one knows just how long “as long as possible is,” he points out.  “It’s important right now.” How to start the conversation PrimeWise, a service…

I can only hope to make it to 104 years old someday, and have as much energy and wit as the impressive woman in this video interview from CNN. Elizabeth Sullivan said  she’s never been a hospital patient except for having her tonsils removed and giving birth. She also doesn’t take any medication. Her secret –  she’s been drinking three cans of Dr. Pepper a day for 50 or 60 years. Sullivan said she  thinks her body may need the sugar. We don’t know what the rest of her  diet looks like, and she may need the extra calories as…

We all have that one person in our lives who can’t sit still. In our office, that person is me. I have a little red stress ball that’s been my distraction of choice for the past two years. When I have writer’s block or really need to focus on proofing something, I squeeze the ball. I’ve also been known to use it to get the attention of coworkers who aren’t listening to me. Recently  a coworker stole it – apparently he doesn’t find it an acceptable attention-grabbing tool to use when he has ear buds in – I’ve been searching…

The school year is coming to a close, and soon your little ones will be spending their time at home. Need a little help to keep them busy? Greater Cincinnati organizations offer endless summer camps to keep your kids moving and learning until fall. Please visit each camp’s website for more information about pricing and days offered. Camps for the entertainer Learn to dance: The Cincinnati Ballet has eight different summer camps to teach your child the art of dance, no matter his or her experience level. Find your inner choir nerd: The Cincinnati Boychoir encourages young men to…

Colorful and sweet, Peeps are a necessity for any Easter basket. But what do you do with all the remaining neon treats when Easter is over? Instead of letting your leftover sweets go stale, use them to create a delicious new dessert. We love this decadent recipe for chocolate peanut butter Peeps skillet s’mores. With only four ingredients, it’s simple to make and a great indulgent treat. Admittedly, this recipe probably isn’t any better for you than eating your leftover Peeps, but turning them into something new may stop you from eating a lot of candy at once. And, you…

The core region – your hips, abdomen and lower back – is the key to having great posture while you run and controlling your stride up and down hills. A strong, flexible core will make running these portions much easier. In the latest video from Physical Therapist Stacey McConnell of St. Elizabeth Healthcare Sports Medicine, you will learn some basic exercises to strengthen your core and improve your running form.

Full of sugar and caffeine, we know that soft drinks aren’t the healthiest drink around. Unfortunately, drinking soda can be a hard habit to kick. We found a great list from MyFitnessPal on ways to successfully switch out that daily Diet Coke with a sweet replacement ““ tea. Check out their six tips to making tea taste better than soda. Guilty of drinking a little too much diet coke, here are some tips I’m going to try: Think outside the leaf – Look for teas that include ingredients that tend to be naturally sweeter to curb your sugar cravings. Drink…