Use Common Sense And Wear Sunscreen
UV ray exposure can damage the skin in 15 minutes. Even if indoors by an open window, or in a car with the window down, the sun’s powerful rays can cause skin cell damage, leading to skin cancer. The skin becomes more vulnerable with age. It’s no surprise that the most skin cancers occur in people over 65. The Gifford-Jones common sense approach to disease prevention means wearing sunscreen with a sun protective factor (SPF) of at least 30. Reapply at least every two hours.
Avoid Sedentary Behaviour
A sedentary lifestyle is a massive detriment to health. Many studies have shown that reducing sitting time increases the chances of better cardiovascular health and lowers risk of diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s. Keep your body moving by finding activities you enjoy. And if you do find yourself sitting for long durations of time, how about chair yoga?
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Blood Pressure Is Like Engine Oil. Check It Regularly.
Monitor blood pressure regularly at home. Monitors fitting the upper arm with digital readouts are generally the most accurate. Take readings in the morning before eating and again in the evening. Repeat readings to ensure accuracy. Sit quietly making sure the arm is raised to heart level, using a pillow to elevate the arm. Tracking readings can help doctors diagnose if high blood pressure readings are an occasion fluctuation or a chronic problem. Active monitoring can also help determine the effectiveness of medications or lifestyle changes.
Wash Your Hands Often
More than two years into the pandemic, “wash your hands” is deeply entrenched in societal vocabulary. Sir William Osler would agree: “Soap and water and common sense are the best disinfectants.” While hand sanitizer is wonderful in a pinch, nothing beats a proper hand wash.
Be Objective About Health
William Shakespeare once said, “In the night, imagining some fear, how easy is a bush supposed a bear!” In the face of fear, uncertainty, or panic, medical scares of any kind can be inflated by imagination of the worst-case scenario. Although difficult, keep your eye on the bigger picture. And remember, in darkness, a mundane bush can most certainly appear to be a daunting bear.
Live Today “Superbly Well”
To quote William Osler, “Let each day absorb all your interest, energy and enthusiasm. The best preparation for tomorrow is to live today superbly well.” Each day well spent will be the happy memory of tomorrow.
Read this week’s article on nostalgia here.
Nitric Oxide Lowers Blood Pressure
It’s been said that “societies get the blood pressure they deserve.” An estimated 75 million adult North Americans have hypertension. What is more frightening is that doctors are now seeing this disease in children who are obese and diabetic. Studies show that nearly 50 per cent of those being treated by prescription drugs discontinue medication due to unpleasant side-effects. Help prevent high blood pressure and manage hypertension naturally first without the use of prescription medication. Nitric oxide is known to widen blood vessels.
Your Bowels Tell You a Lot
Your bowel movements are an indication of what is going on inside your body. Constipated? You’d likely benefit from adding fibre to your diet and drinking more water. Loose stool? You may be consuming too much oil or triggering a food intolerance. Colour seem off? Consult your doctor to get a professional opinion.
A Handful of Almonds
A handful of almonds daily has been shown to reduce the risk of a cardiovascular event by 18%. Almonds are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids which help to keep blood vessels soft and elastic. Remember, nuts are high in calories, so eat them in moderation. At the end of the day, reach for a glass of red wine to boost high density lipoproteins or the “good” cholesterol. Think of it as a treat for the oat bran eaten for breakfast!
Abdominal Fat Is Risky
You do not have to be obese. Allowing visceral fat to build up around your organs is equivalent to strapping dynamite to your middle. And using prescription drugs to battle the onset of poor health is akin to flashing a roll of bills before a lawyer. There’s a good chance you’ll live to regret it. Focus on diet, exercise, sleep, and other elements of healthy living. If you need help, look to natural supplements that boost your chances for good health.
Unripe Apples Protect from Threat of a Fatty Liver
Do Desperate Diseases Require Desperate Cures?
One of the best ways to cure many health problems would be to ban advertising telling people something is wrong with them. Advertising is injuring people and triggering false hopes. Good health is better achieved by avoiding the doctor and safely disposing half the pills in the medicine cabinet. Evolution did not plan for the chemical abuse of modern medicine and its effects on key organs like the kidney and liver. The desperate truth is that it is best to prevent disease, and only secondarily try to cure it.
Pale Urine Means Happily Hydrated
A well-hydrated body produces pale yellow urine. Dehydration will cause a darkening of colour. Diet and medication can also affect the colour. If drinking plenty of water and urine remains dark or cloudy, consider bringing it up at your next medical appointment.
Opt For Extra Virgin Olive Oil
There are many cooking oils on the market, but extra virgin olive oil is the healthy option. “Extra virgin” is an unrefined oil, not treated with chemicals. Extra virgin olive oil contains more of the natural vitamins and minerals found in olives, offering antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is high in monounsaturated fatty acids, containing about 75% by volume. When substituted for saturated fat, monounsaturated fats help lower your “bad” LDL cholesterol.
Listen to Your Dentist And Floss Daily
You may tire of hearing your dentist ask you to floss daily, but the advice is sound. Brushing only cleans the surface of the teeth, missing about one third of surface area. It takes less than 36 hours for food between the teeth to turn to tartar that can only be removed by professional cleaning. Daily flossing keeps tartar buildup to a minimum, promotes healthy gums, and combats bad breath.
Alternatives To Talk Therapy
The term “talk therapy” refers to various forms of psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an example. But treatments that improve mental health can take many other forms. If you feel mentally or emotionally stressed, consider alternatives such as sound, art, movement, or forest therapy. Look for professionals offering these alternative therapies in your area. Try group therapy too, or invite a loved one to join you in various forms of partner therapy.
The Hidden Harm of Beauty Products
Skincare junkies, beware. Many beauty products are hardly healthy. Pores of the skin are direct gateways to the body. Misleading packaging and idealized promises are alluring, yet ingredients may detrimental. Avoid artificial fragrance, which can have all kinds of chemical components. Commonly used as preservatives to deter bacterial and mold growth, parabens are well known toxic chemicals often found in cosmetic products. Be your naturally beautiful self.
Send Cupid’s Arrow Soaring
Loving and being loved are excellent components of healthy living. Humans are social creatures, and healthy hormones flood the brain when our senses are alive with love. Whether affection involves a loving partner, a much adored pet, or a moment’s imagination, embrace each opportunity. Set time aside to indulge in love.
Let Therapy Work Its Wonders
Statistics show that men make up the majority of suicide cases in North America. But why is it that men seek mental health support much less than women? Stigma associatedwith poor mental health is fading, but many men still resist getting help. Drugs are far too often promoted as the first line of defence. But all kinds of non-pharmaceutical interventions can be remarkably successful. Efforts to address the earliest signs of unhappiness or anxiety are important, and many different kinds of therapies can do it!
Stay Hydrated
The human body is about 60% water. It has been said that we are essentially cucumbers with anxiety! Water is crucial to most body processes including temperature regulation, transport and absorption of nutrients, joint lubrication, and digestion. An intake of 3-4 liters of water a day keeps the body well hydrated.
Work Healthy
Wherever work gets done, make it healthy work.
- Pack healthy lunches – Prepare lunch the evening prior, to avoid eating unhealthy meals on the go.
- Get up and move – Take active breaks from work that involves sitting for long periods of time.
- Chat with colleagues – Being social is surprisingly good for one’s health.
- Use opportunities to exercise – Take the stairs. Run errands on foot. Go to the gym.
- Speak up about good health – Let people know you care about health issues. Be a good health champion.
Being Fortunate in Health Is Rare
It’s been said, even stray dogs have their lucky day. If you get a bit of good luck, take it! Luck, good or bad, tends to build on itself. The Matthew Effect dictates that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. It’s the same thing with health. If you are lucky enough to have it, don’t squander your good fortune. If you weren’t delt a lucky hand, it will take hard work to achieve good health.
Beat the Blues
Depression is a condition with symptoms that include insomnia, anxiety, and irritability. An interplay of factors are likely responsible: e.g., a drop in adrenaline, change in routine, undesirable responsibilities. How to beat the blues? Ensure you are eating and sleeping well and try incorporating small enjoyable activities into the daily routine. If depression or anxiety worsen, consult a healthcare professional.
You Are What You Eat
Processed foods are full of empty calories. Practice moderation and make greasy or sugary treats a “now-and-then” commodity rather than everyday occurrence. Eating a donut of about 250 calories would require the average person 60-90 minutes of abdominal crunches to burn off. A fast food chain burger and fries combo? About 100-150 minutes on an elliptical. Fuel your body with healthy fats, proteins and carbs, not over-processed quick fixes!
Routines Help Mental and Physical Health
It’s easy to fall out of healthy habits when faced with busy and inconsistent schedules. However, harried times underscore the need for daily health-conscious decisions! Set a morning and evening health routine and stick to it. Include a few exercises at the start of the day to get you going, and wind down with a favourate source of relaxation. Keep a journal to help set a routine, feel organized and track against goals. Find comfort in structure.
Give The Gift of Health
While the end of the year always seems to fall on the side of decadence, why not give yourself or loved ones the gift of health this year? Whether you’d like to end your own year off on a healthy note or encourage loved ones to adopt new healthy habits in 2022, Giff’s Gift Guide has lots of great ideas for everyone on your shopping list. The Buddha famously said “Health is the greatest gift.” And what a wonderful gift to give indeed.
