Antioxidants: The Rainbow Connection
By Katie Boscia, RD, IBCLC Certain lifestyle choices—such as smoking—produce substances called free radicals that attack the healthy cells found in our bodies. When these cells are weakened, the body becomes more susceptible to certain cancers. In order to combat this, there are certain foods you can eat that contain antioxidants to help protect your […]
Defining the Four-Letter Word, “Diet”
By Mindi Matthews, director of Health and Wellness at Riverview Health What does the word “diet” mean to you? The word actually comes from the Greek word “diaita,” which means “way of life.” For many people, however, it means following a specific food plan to lose weight. Once the weight is off, many people go […]
5 Tips to Fight Allergies
By Michael Agostino, MD Board certified ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist at Riverview Health Even though we may be tired of being in the grip of freezing winter weather, it’s never too early to plan for the often draining effects of the upcoming allergy season. Recently, the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery […]
High Blood Pressure: “The Silent Killer”
By Mindi Matthews, director of Health and Wellness at Riverview Health High blood pressure is a very common and dangerous condition. About one out of three adults in the US—or 67 million people—have high blood pressure. However, only about 47 percent of these people have their blood pressure controlled. High blood pressure is called the […]
Heart Health Facts and Tips
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women. More than half of the deaths in men in 2009 were due to heart disease. Every year 720,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 515,000 are a first heart attack and 205,000 happen in people who’ve already had a heart attack. […]
Early Action is Key to Heart Health
Knowing the warning signs and symptoms of a heart attack is key to preventing death, but many people don’t know the signs or are in denial that they’re having a heart attack when it happens. About 47 percent of sudden cardiac deaths occur outside the hospital, which suggests that many people with heart disease don’t […]
Sodium: Shake it Off!
By Katie Boscia, MS, RD, IBCLC February is National Heart Health month, which is a reminder to pay closer attention to the amount of sodium you consume. Many people think that by reducing their sodium intake from the saltshaker, they’ll be fine. In reality, most of the sodium we eat—approximately 75 percent or more—is consumed […]
Heart Health: Know Your Numbers
Making sure you’re on the right track to maintaining a healthy heart is as simple as knowing five little numbers: blood pressure, blood sugar, body mass index, cholesterol and waist size. By regularly monitoring these five things, you can quickly see when something is abnormal so you can follow up with your doctor. Blood Pressure […]
Burning Fat: What you Need to Know
Most of us go to the gym looking to feel better, tone up and lose a few pounds in the process. With all the weight loss information out there, developing an effective routine to achieve this can seem overwhelming. The most important concept to remember for weight loss is that, in order to lose weight, […]
Setting Wellness Goals and Sticking with Them
The New Year leads to many resolutions to make changes and improve your overall wellness. Without specific direction, these new resolutions often run off the path. A well-defined plan is your best bet for success. Keep the following in mind as you define and enact your goals for the coming year. A Goal Needs to […]