Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Trick or treat snacks are traditionally sweet, chewy, high calorie and non-nourishing. This year, consider giving individually-wrapped treats that are healthy, tasty and equally appreciated by parents, dentists and goblins. Children and parents are advised to discard any candy/treat that is not individually wrapped by the manufacturer. As a result, homemade treats are no longer a good option to give to door-to-door trick or treaters. Choose treats that are individually-wrapped and can be purchased in bulk. Healthy options Pumpkin seeds Cereal and granola bars String cheese Popcorn/popcorn balls Trail mix Pretzels Raisins Craisins Oatmeal and raisin cookies Sandwich crackers Sugar-free…

Two cups, three cups or four cups a day? How much coffee do you consume? On average, people in North America consume about two cups a day. In a recent study, shared by WebMD, researchers were able to link six genes to our coffee consumption. Now, you can blame your genes for your coffee cravings. Two genes appear to be linked to the “kick” that we feel from caffeine. Two others are linked to the way our body metabolizes caffeine. This could explain why some people are able to consume larger amounts of coffee without feeling any effects. The last…

Protein first thing in the morning can be a great source of energy to keep you moving all day. Eggs are a common go-to protein for breakfast that also provide essential vitamins and minerals. If you’re looking for a new way to have scrambled eggs on the go, then you’ll enjoy this low-fat recipe from St. Elizabeth’s Weight Management Center. It adds sautéed veggies, salsa and cheese to scrambled eggs and wraps it all in a whole wheat tortilla. Consider making the wrap filling ahead of time, and just heat it up for a quick breakfast during the work week.…

Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries among athletes. It is estimated that 23,000 sprains occur daily in the United States alone. Despite the frequency of this type of injury, there are misconceptions about optimal management, return to sport and prevention of future injuries. So, we’re busting three common myths about ankle sprains: Myth: All athletes should wear ankle braces to prevent sprains. Braces help prevent sprains in athletes with previous sprains, but not necessarily in those without prior ankle injury. There is no convincing evidence that bracing or taping a previously uninjured ankle will prevent a…

We know how important a good night’s sleep is for our overall health. It effects our mood, immune system, blood pressure and ability to concentrate, among other things. If you go through a non-sleeping period that lasts more than a month you may have insomnia. Talking to your doctor can help you determine what’s causing the sleeplessness and how it can be treated. If you’re having trouble sleeping and are considering making an appointment with your doctor, here are six things to know about insomnia from the Huffington Post. You may be predisposed to insomnia. Some people are naturally good…

Just because it’s starting to get colder outside doesn’t mean you should neglect your running shoes or jump on the dreaded treadmill. November is full of races to help you stay in shape and support causes in your area. Already started hibernating for winter? Give this Couch to 5K six-week training program a try to get back in action. 1. Reading, Writing and Running 5K Walk/Run “” November 1 Where: Colerain Park, 4725 Springdale Road When: November 1, 10 a.m. What: Located next to the Colerain Middle School, this race will fund programs for students to improve reading and writing…

If you like the taste of kale and prefer your coffee black, you may have a predisposition to bitter foods, according to a new study shared by NPR. The study found people without a specific taste receptor gene were less sensitive to bitter compounds and consumed significantly more vegetables compared to those who had the receptor gene. In fact, during the course of a year, individuals without the receptor gene consumed approximately 200 more servings of vegetables than their counterparts. University of Connecticut researcher Valerie Duffy said the most surprising finding was people who are sensitive to bitter tastes ate…

Are you being needled? If not, maybe you should be! “Needling” is a term often used in reference to the administration of acupuncture needles. 1. What is acupuncture? The Chinese have used acupuncture for thousands of years as a primary method for maintaining health and fighting disease. In fact, one of the emperors made it unlawful for acupuncturists to practice except on the emperor himself or his warriors. The emperor’s fear was that because acupuncture was so successful, the common people would take guidance from an acupuncturist rather than the emperor! Today, acupuncture is recognized by the World Health Organization…

Mealtime with young kids can be a daily struggle especially when you’re busy. Sometimes pulling through a drive-thru window is extremely tempting so you can get food in front of your kids that they’ll actually eat. The good news is that fast food restaurants now offer healthier drinks and side items in their kids’ meals. For those nights when you can’t gather the family around the dinner table, BuzzFeed offers a side-by-side comparison of the best and worst fast food kids’ meals. The article focuses on calories, if you’re interested in additional nutritional value you can click through to the…

Medicine is based on a lot of scientific diagnostic tests and scans. But one specialty, neurology (medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system), can rely more heavily on bedside observation and conversation to determine issues going on in the brain, according to this article from NPR. Simple tasks like repeating a phrase or squeezing a rolled-up blood pressure cuff can be difficult for someone who has suffered a stroke or for someone who has myasthenia, a disease that causes muscles to weaken rapidly with use. The article features Dr. Allan Ropper, a Harvard neurologist, who says, “When someone…