FitSugar

Blisters Hurt, Treatment Shouldn't

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 09:30:00 -0700

Yesterday, while running on the treadmill, I did not notice that my sock had a rather unfortunate fold in it which left me an even more unfortunate blister on my heel. So I went on the search for what I should do to help heal it rapidly.

Here are some good suggestions I came across on caring for a blister, from the University of Michigan Health System:

Steps should be taken to avoid further irritating the problem area.
Large blisters can be carefully drained with a sterilized needle, then covered with antibiotic ointment and a bandage.
For extra protection, purchase a moleskin at a drugstore. Cut a hole that's larger than the blister in the moleskin, creating a moleskin "donut." Then apply the moleskin so that the hole is over the blister.
See your doctor about any blisters that don't heal in a reasonable amount of time, or look like they may be infected.

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More Easy Ways to Keep Kids Trim This Summer

FitSugar — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:30:00 -0700

For some kids, summertime can provide a reason get out and get active, but for others it can mean more TV time, more access to snacks and time to be lazy. Don't let summertime lead to bulking up your kids, and yourself, by following these great tips from Amy Bohn, M.D., a family physician for the University of Michigan Health System:

Stock up on healthy snacks. What you have in your kitchen influences the food choices your children make, both now and later in life. Avoid buying high-fat, salty or sugary snacks like chips and cookies. Instead, try fruits and vegetables such as apples, bananas and carrots, which are fun to munch on and portable. Other good snacks include yogurt, peanut butter and celery, and whole-grain crackers and cheese. Sugary soda pop and fruit-flavored drinks are big contributors to obesity, so provide healthier options like bottled water or milk. "You can even involve your children in the grocery shopping," says Bohn. Allowing your children to choose healthy snacks that they enjoy increases the likelihood that they will eat those snacks instead of less healthy alternatives.
Make plans. Children are often left unsupervised in the summer, which makes it harder to motivate them to be active and eat properly. Bohn recommends making set plans and scheduling in some fun activities. "Talk to your children before the day, as far as things that you can plan together, and then talk to them at the end of the day when you get home, as far as what they've done that day. It takes time and planning, but if you have some structure, it really helps," she says.

There's more, so read more

Model good behavior. Children are more likely to make healthy choices when their parents set a good example. Show them that you enjoy eating healthy food, and they will be more willing to give it a chance. Encourage young children to bike alongside you as you jog, and invite older ones outside to play catch. Even small things, like walking to the corner store instead of driving, can encourage kids to get moving. The more active and healthy you are as a parent, the more active and healthy your child will want to be. "Parents being good role models can help foster good habits in their children, which really helps the problem of childhood obesity," says Bohn.
Keep it up! "The habits that we develop over the summertime will persist into the fall and winter months, particularly if there's continuity," says Bohn. "If parents help their children to establish these healthy routines, then they most likely will continue in the future." Making health a priority is easy in the summer, and if parents continue to make it a priority in the fall and winter, children will develop healthy habits for life.

For even more tips on keeping kids fit this summer, check out an earlier post on it.

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Easy Ways to Keep Kids Trim This Summer

FitSugar — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 02:00:00 -0700

For some kids, summertime can provide a reason to get out and get active, but for others it can mean more TV time, more access to snacks and more time to be lazy. Don't let summertime lead to bulking up your kids, and yourself, by following these great tips from Amy Bohn, M.D., a family physician for the University of Michigan Health System:

Limit "screen time." "There is a positive correlation between the amount of time that children spend in front of the TV, computer, or video games and obesity, so it's important to limit those types of activities to less than two hours a day," advises Bohn. By reducing time spent on sedentary activities, parents free up more time for their children to play outside and be active.
Make activities fun. Exercise shouldn't be a chore, especially for children. With warm weather outside, kids cans do a variety of activities that involve both fun and fitness. "Parents should involve children in playful activities, as opposed to just doing things like puzzles and games," says Bohn. She recommends jumping rope, swimming, skateboarding, and bike riding as alternatives to inside play. Team sports also are great ways to promote activity, so encourage your child to join a community team such as softball, soccer or dance. Summer is a great time to get in shape for fall tryouts at school, too.
Involve the whole family. Take turns choosing fun things to do as a group, such as going on a family bike ride, visiting a zoo, or even planting a garden. Kids are more likely to want to exercise and to enjoy if they are doing it alongside mom and dad. In addition, focusing on the family as a group helps prevent overweight children from feeling embarrassed or singled out. "As a parent, you don't want to be critical of your child because of the concerns we see with childhood obesity and lower self-esteem," says Bohn. "It's important to discuss it in the framework of the whole family being healthy and active."

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Is Your Health Getting in the Way of Love?

FitSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 09:38:28 -0800

This Valentine's Day (and beyond), don't let health excuses get in the way of love.

Dr. Patricia Rockwell is an assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and claims that there are many health barriers (most of which are myths, by the way) that can get in the way of sex and romance. Rockwell outlines the nine main issues potentially dampening your passion:

Prescription drugs. Heart drugs such as diuretics and ACE inhibitors, and SSRI antidepressants such as Celexa, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft, can all interfere with erectile function.
Heart health. Myths aside, sex is not going to cause a heart attack, even in people with diagnosed heart disease.
Depression. Left untreated, depressed people can experience lack of pleasure, lack of desire and lack of ability to perform.
Alcohol. While a few drinks might make you a bit bolder, overdoing it can raise the risk of unsafe sex. Drinking also decreases sexual pleasure because alcohol lowers your sensations.
Sexually Transmitted Disease. With the correct precautions (especially condoms), contracting an STD -- such as HIV, hepatitis or the human papillomavirus (HPV) -- need not spell the end to romance.
Stress. Too many work and family commitments, and too little time, means sex often gets left by the wayside. Stress can also cause libido to decline and lead to unsatisfying sex lives.
Pregnancy. Another big myth. There is no barrier to sex during pregnancy.
Menopause. While hormone levels do drop after menopause, the use of topical estrogen creams and lubricants means older women can have sex lives as active as women half their age.
Poor body image. A dip in self-esteem can impair sexual desire and satisfaction, Rockwell said. But studies also show that healthy weight loss -- as little as 5 pounds -- can help turn that around.

Fit's Tip: Trust me, I know it's nice to have a fall back excuse (we all have them) for those times you're just not in the mood but keep in mind that a healthy relationship involves sex, so stop always making excuses and enjoy it once in a while.

Blueberries Battle Belly Fat

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Long considered a super food, another benefit of blueberries was discovered in a University of Michigan lab. New research found a diet rich in blueberries may help diminish belly fat. Abdominal fat has been linked with both heart disease and diabetes, even in folks with a normal BMI. Although the study was performed on rats, the beneficial decrease of belly fat occurred with both of high- and low-fat diets. More research is needed on humans, but these findings back up data from earlier studies on the benefits of blueberries on male populations at risk for heart disease.

For additional good news on the blueberry front, just read more.

Even after they are frozen, blueberries maintain most of their nutritional benefits. The antioxidants found in the berries, which create their rich hue as well, are not affected by freezing. Frozen blueberries will lose a bit, less than 20 percent, of their vitamin E content as well as a bit of beta carotene. This means you can add blueberries to your diet all year, be they fresh or frozen. Remember though, the darker the berry the more antioxidants it will provide.

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Dieting and the Flu

FitSugar — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:00:00 -0800

Flu season usually peaks around February; the worst is yet to come. In January, many people start dieting to make weight-loss resolutions come true. Therein lies the tension: cutting calories can make you more susceptible to coming down with the flu. New research from Michigan State University found that calorie restriction makes it more difficult for the body to fight the flu. The study, performed on mice, indicated that even with adequate nutrition the "dieting" mice could not produce enough killer cells needed to battle the flu virus. Before you embark on a crazy, low-calorie fad diet (which I don't agree with anyway), remember your body needs calories to fuel your immune system. You just need to eat sensibly and exercise, which strengthens your immune system, too.

Source

Middle ear infection

admin — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:30:52 -0700

Back

HEALTH GUIDE REFERENCE FROM A.D.A.M

A middle ear infection is also known as otitis media. It is one of the most common of childhood infections. With this illness, the middle ear becomes red, swollen, and inflamed because of bacteria trapped in the eustachian tube.

Review Date: 5/3/2006

Reviewed By: Kevin Fung, MD, FRCS(C), Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

A.D.A.M. Copyright

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997-2009 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

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Swim Like Michael Phelps, or at Least Try

FitSugar — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 05:30:00 -0700

Michael Phelps is one of the fastest swimmers in the world and he's got his eye on eight gold medals in the 2008 Olympics. A lot of folks joke that he's got gills; I'm not sure about that but one thing that he definitely does have is a good training program.

His coach Bob Bowman, head coach for the unstoppable University of Michigan swim team, recently gave some tips on what Michael does to perform his best. For tips that you may want to try adding to your swimming routine next time you take a dip, just read more. Coach Bowman's tips are:

Extend your stroke
"If you watch Michael Phelps swim, you'll see that his power comes not from fast strokes, but from long ones. The average freestyle swimmer takes 12 to 16 strokes to cover 25 yards. Michael requires just six to eight. Follow his lead by trying to trim one stroke per pool length the next time you jump into the water. Consciously extend your arms. It will feel awkward at first, like you're exaggerating each stroke, but once you start hitting those longer strokes at your previous short-stroke speed, you'll be faster, stronger, and fitter."

Armor-plate your core
"In order to slice through water with deftness and speed, you have to be strong in multiple planes of motion. I have Michael do medicine-ball exercises to achieve that end. My favorite is called the diagonal woodchopper. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a medicine ball over your right shoulder. Chop down and across your body until the ball touches the ground outside your left foot. Return to the starting position. Do three sets of 10 reps on each side. Next, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Holding the ball directly above your head, suck in your navel and lower the ball behind you as far as you can without lifting your back or bending your arms. Do three sets of 15 reps."

Source

Cut Costs, Not Nutrition: Part Two

FitSugar — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0700

I recently told you about a few tips on how to cut costs at the grocery store while keeping your meals nutritious. And University of Michigan Health System nutritionist Holly Scherer has come up with a few more ways to keep eating healthy and cost effective. They are:

Look for the generic or store brand.
Stock up on nonperishables when they go on sale.
Avoid the temptation of the cookie aisle and the chip aisle. Spend more time in the perimeter of the store, where the fresh products are, and really focus on the fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and the low-fat dairy.
Use coupons, but only for things that you normally would buy, not a lot of high-fat, high-sugar foods.
Cook at home instead of going out to eat.
When you do eat out and you know that a restaurant serves large portions, have them bag half the meal right when they serve it and eat the leftovers for lunch the next day.

What are some of your own tips for eating healthy on a budget?

Source

Cut Costs, Not Nutrition: Part One

FitSugar — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0700

In this time of economic hardships, it's getting harder and harder to put healthy foods on the table every day. It's tempting to just hit the dollar menu at your local fast food stop, but there are simple ways that you can cut costs and still eat healthy. Reuters has consulted with Holly Scherer, a registered dietician at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, for a few ways to cut costs but not nutrition. Here are highlights:

Eating in season is one key way to cut your food bill.
Local co-operatives where you trade money or labor in order to reap the benefits of a larger community garden or local farm are another option for fresh fruits and vegetables.
You can save money by planting your own produce and herbs.
When fresh options are too expensive or unavailable, consider frozen and canned fruits and vegetables.

What about the most expensive part of your grocery bill? Protein. There are ways to cut costs there too so read more.

Try simply eating less meat with your meals.
Though the price of eggs has increased, they are still a cheaper source of protein than meat. Beans are another option for adding protein to meals at a low cost.
Less expensive cuts are often less tender, which makes them good choices for meals like stews and casseroles.
Watch for sales so you can purchase preferred cuts at a discount and freeze them for later use.
Buying chicken breasts with the bone and skin on and filleting and skinning them yourself will also save money because the price per pound is lower.

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