Bringing wholesome healthy tips
“The long goodbye” is often used to describe Alzheimer’s disease. But I can tell you from personal experience that this same term can describe Parkinson’s disease. My father died of Parkinson’s when he was 83. We spent ten long years watching him slip away from us, first physically, then mentally. There is no cure for Parkinson’s. But early detection allows for treatments that may slow the progression of the disease…
These days, there is no escaping “forever chemicals.” These per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the soil under our feet and even the food we eat. And, like their nickname implies, they don’t disappear over time. Despite efforts to find alternatives, PFAS are still present in all kinds of products we use and consume — new clothes, takeout containers, cosmetics,…
Gabapentin is a seizure medication that many doctors prescribe off-label for low back pain. It’s seen as a much safer, nonaddictive alternative to the addictive opioids that have wreaked havoc on so many lives and communities. However, as is so often the case with medications, the truth is somewhat murkier. The gabapentinoid class of drugs, which includes gabapentin, has been associated with a 30 percent higher risk of hip fracture.…
I remember the first time I came across a group of people in a park practicing tai chi. The slow and graceful movements were beautiful to watch. But it was the mindful concentration and peaceful expressions on the faces of those participating that really pulled me in. I remember yearning for that kind of community and connection. I found it in my love for choir, but I’ve had tai chi…
As women get older, they need to pay closer attention to their heart health. After all, heart disease is the leading killer of women who have completed menopause. One reason for this spike is plummeting estrogen levels. Estrogen is more than a female hormone. It affects factors that regulate vascular wall elasticity, impacting blood pressure and circulation. Without it, blood vessels begin to constrict, making it easier for cholesterol to…
When a natural bodily process is harnessed and manufactured as a drug, there’s probably trouble ahead. Take the hormone glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1). It’s released when we eat in order to stimulate insulin. But GLP-1 does more than regulate blood sugar. It also suppresses appetite by slowing the passage of food from the stomach. Sure enough, the weight loss industry latched on to this and brought us the drug Ozempic,…
As we age, our digestive system naturally slows down and becomes less efficient. This is due to a combination of factors, including decreased digestive enzyme production, slower muscle contractions in the digestive tract and lifestyle choices that have left their mark. The result: nutrient deficiencies, acid reflux and constipation. But there’s one outcome of this slowdown in digestion that can be extraordinarily painful and even land you in the hospital.…
As we age, sex becomes more problematic for both men and women for different reasons. For women, menopause tends to knock out their libido and make sex more painful due to vaginal dryness and atrophy. For men, it’s a bit more complicated. While some older men with erectile dysfunction (ED) do suffer from low testosterone levels, it’s far from the only potential cause. Some others include: Heart disease Atherosclerosis High…
It’s no secret that food prices have been on the upswing lately, especially in the meat aisle. And it’s prompted me to do a little research into cheaper ways to get protein. One source I’ve overlooked that is incredibly cheap is legumes, a category of foods that includes beans, chickpeas and lentils. Dried beans can cost as little as 10 to 20 cents a serving, and canned beans aren’t much…
A poor night’s sleep could be the missing link in understanding why adults with ADHD feel less happy. It turns out that it may be insomnia that’s dragging their mood and quality of life down, rather than just the attention and emotional regulation challenges of living with ADHD. Adults with ADHD are at higher risk of depression and lower quality of life (QoL). But until now, it wasn’t clear how…