Archive for August, 2011

Where are those keys?

Saturday, August 27th, 2011


 

By Para Mehta, RD/ www.healthfulfilling.com

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Last week, we talked about the start of back to school, and the frenzied morning rushing that goes with it. With a multitude of morning tasks, looking for misplaced car keys happens most when you’re in a hurry.

If you can remember where those car keys are that’s great! But if it takes awhile and happens often, that can be frustrating. In any case, it’s a good idea to become aware of risk factors for memory related disorders. You might have heard about University of Tennessee’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, who was diagnosed with early onset dementia at age 59. She explains to interviewers how she took notice of her symptoms and didn’t ignore them, and seeked medical attention. Now she is determined to do what she needs to manage her condition and keep coaching.

According to the Mayo Clinic, increasing age is a risk factor for dementia, but it’s not a normal part of aging.  Check out this web article from this week that discusses dementia:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-signs-of-alzheimers-that-can-show-up-before-memory-loss.html

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Back to school, crazy schedules, and drive thrus

Friday, August 19th, 2011


 

 By Para Mehta, RD/ www.healthfulfilling.com

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Next week most of us will be getting back on the fast moving train of  back to school, aka… frantic mornings, overwhelming afternoons, and  schedules turned upside down! Enough disorder to drive you to the drive thru to help you cope, get something to eat, and call it a day!


In the beginning of the summer, one of my posts was about practicing healthy eating habits in order get on to a pattern, which can help transition and get equipped for the back to school time frame. Hopefully, you got a chance to do that. If not, it’s never too late. Don’t let unhealthy eating habits and the chaos of busy lifestyles dictate your health.

Don’t fall prey to the luring drive thru signs. The best way to establish a pattern of healthy eating during busy days is to plan and stick to the plan. Learn healthy eating strategies and turn it into a lifestyle change, by  checking out, “No More Excuses, Revitalize With Healthy Eating,” at:

http://www.healthfulfilling.com/selfhealthebooks.html

Keep up with your health, and have a great week back to school! Talk to you again next week!

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No P & J sandwiches, please!

Friday, August 12th, 2011


 

By Para Mehta, RD/ www.healthfulfilling.com

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With the school year beginning soon, packing school lunches is back on the every night  ”to do” list. Moms dread it, and kids sigh at the ever frequent peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! It’s not easy to think of different, easy and tasty lunch ideas especially when you’re pressed for time, and the peanut butter is right there!

Last summer, CBS 11′s Get Healthy Texas featured me to do a segment on back to school healthy lunch ideas. So if your kids want fun and surprising foods in their lunchbox, visit the article, “Tired of Sandwiches for Lunch?,” at:

http://www.healthfulfilling.com/tiredofsandwiches.html

To keep your kids interested in a variety of lunch choices, be sure to involve them in choosing lunch foods and making lunch. It helps you out, the kids know what they’re getting, and they’ll like it since they chose it and helped make it. It does make a difference! Enjoy the rest of your summer, and have a great school year ahead. Thanks for visiting the blog and site, and send in any comments!

Make healthy eating a lifestyle change, it’s only a click away at:

 http://www.healthfulfilling.com/selfhealthebooks.html

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Water–don’t leave home without it

Friday, August 5th, 2011


 

By Para Mehta,  RD/ www.healthfulfilling.com

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With the intense heat becoming nearly record breaking in some parts of the country, water is something you don’t want to leave home without, not even if you’re going to be back right away! Don’t underestimate the need for water during short periods of time in the heat.

Last week we talked about the dangers of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. But if you work outdoors or have a child starting athletics practice for school or kids in sports, marching band or other activities, adequate hydration is even more crucial. Talk to your school coaches and staff to ask what precautions they are taking during practices to keep kids safe, and make sure you express any concerns. It’s also a good idea to consult your pediatrician for any advice about training and workouts in the heat.

Since the evenings and nights are much warmer, take water with you when running errands or going outdoors even then. It’s easy to run out the door in a hurry without water. But you never know when excess heat and thirst will strike so it’s better to take an insulated cold water jug along. 

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Are poor eating habits ruining your health? Take control of your lifestyle with, “No More Excuses, Revitalize With Healthy Eating,”

http://www.healthfulfilling.com/selfhealthebooks.html

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If you’re the type who just can’t drink a glass of water at one time, then keep a bottle of ice water around to keep sipping on about four times an hour. Even if you stay indoors, you still need to keep yourself hydrated to meet daily water requirements. Don’t forget, water is a nutrient! To find out how much water you need in a day, check out the Dietary Reference Intakes by the Institutes of Medicine (look for the water column and your age) at:

http://www.iom.edu/Activities/Nutrition/SummaryDRIs/~/media/Files/Activity%20Files/Nutrition/DRIs/New%20Material/5DRI%20Values%20SummaryTables%2014.pdf

Stay cool, keep hydrated and healthy!

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