Posted on Monday, September 26, 2016

Coffee, Tea and Me

Sometimes it’s nice to wake up slow with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning. Taking even 10 minutes at the beginning of each day to set your intentions is excellent for your mental health and well-being. Not only do coffee and tea contain caffeine, which will help get you moving in the morning, but they also contain a ton of other health benefits. Starting your day with a cup of coffee or tea can help boost your metabolism. Drinking three or more cups of green tea each day can increase your caloric output by more than 70 calories. The same goes for coffee: the caffeine in these drinks can temporarily increase your metabolic rate. Today, we are going to discuss the benefits of having a cup of joe in the morning to help prepare for the day ahead.

When it comes to coffee…
Try drinking your coffee black. Adding cream and sugar to your morning cup can add inches to your waistline. It may take a bit to get used to the taste, but it’s much better for your health. Did you know that drinking black coffee can also lower your risk of colon cancer?

Drink coffee to boost your morning workout. Have you ever seen people with Starbucks at the gym? I have, and I’ve always thought they were crazy, but there is some logic to it. We know that caffeine boosts energy which is helpful when you need to be up for an early morning workout. But caffeine also increases your epinephrine levels. Epinephrine is a neurotransmitter, more commonly known as adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and primes you for action. This can help you get the best workout possible.

High quality coffee is chock-full of essential vitamins and minerals. Coffee contains tons of B vitamins. B vitamins are important for brain health and function. Coffee beans also contain other minerals such as potassium.

What about tea?
Tea leaves are full of antioxidants. Antioxidants help to detoxify our cells. Having a cup of tea in the morning can keep your skin glowing all day long!

Tea can also help increase bone density. If you have been diagnosed with osteoporosis or osteopenia, it’s important that you start thinking about your bone health now. Horsetail tea is a great bone builder due to its high silica content.

Drink tea to boost immunity. Having a cup of tea a day will help increase your cells immunity to unknown antibodies. Kick sickness to the curb by sipping tea every morning, not just when you’re sick.

Where should you get your coffee beans and tea leaves from?
Pay attention to where your coffee and tea are from. Coffee is one of the most heavily sprayed crops. Therefore, it’s pick a brand that is organic and fair trade, if possible. So, where are the best countries to get coffee from? Two of the more well-known places are Brazil and Columbia, but most people would be surprised to know that Ethiopia is a huge producer of coffee beans.

You also have to be careful when you pick a brand of tea. Pesticides are often sprayed on the crops for better yield. Before choosing a tea brand, do some research. And of course, always choose organic. A good brand that you can get at your local grocery store is Yogi tea. They have made a lot of changes within their company in the past several years in order to provide you with the healthiest product ever.

We all know that coffee and tea can help give us an energy boost in the morning. But it’s important not to drink caffeinated beverages too late in the day. There are many types of tea, such as chamomile tea, which don’t contain caffeine and can help you to sleep. Whether you’re starting your day with a cup of coffee, or ending it with a hot cup of tea, carving out a little time for yourself is never a bad thing.

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children, as well as your aging parents: Life in the Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process, how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!

Posted on Thursday, July 28, 2016

Sneak Peek: What doesn’t your health insurance cover?

Exciting news!

I was recently contacted by the fabulous website Grandparents.com with some questions regarding health insurance and what it doesn’t cover. I have been approached many times with questions about health insurance, as it can be very confusing to navigate.

Did you know that the average age of a grandparent in the United States is 48? Neither did I. Grandparents, along with many other people, struggle with finding healthcare coverage for themselves and their loved ones.

We shared a lot of interesting information with Grandparents.com. Here is a glimpse at only a few of the many interesting facts we discussed:

Insurance is essential. Make sure to research and compare insurance policies before selecting a plan. Consider if the plan covers your prescriptions, physicians, and services you need or may utilize in the future. Make sure to use your medical life list when evaluating options.
If your insurance tells you that alternative therapies, such as massage or acupuncture, are covered services, make sure to find out what is required for them to be covered, how many visits are covered, and what health care providers you can see. Unforeseen costs can be burdensome, so make sure you know before you go!
A good rule of thumb to determine whether a service is covered by insurance is to ask yourself whether or not the service is a medical necessity? This can be tricky, but usually insurance companies say services such as travel vaccinations or massages are not a medical necessity, and therefore are not covered.
If you are receiving high out-of-pocket costs for services that are not covered, look for a plan that better suits your needs. If that’s not feasible, talk to your doctors and ask if they will put you on a payment plan or offer discounts for paying in cash.

For more information, check out the article today on Grandparents.com and make sure to let us know what you think!

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children, as well as your aging parents: Life in the Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process and how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!

Posted on Thursday, June 2, 2016

How To Stay Healthy During The First Days Of Summer

June is National Safety Month, and summer is fast approaching! The days are getting longer, the trees are in full bloom and the sun is getting stronger. But with the change in season come different health risks. Things such as sunscreen use, exercise, hydration and allergies are all issues one must deal with during the summer months. Today, we will discuss how to stay healthy in the first days of summer.

First, let’s talk about sunscreen. We all know how important it is to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays. But did you know that having up to five sunburns before the age of 18 dramatically increases your risk for skin cancer later in life? Therefore, it is extremely important to practice safe sun. Not only does sunscreen protect us from the sun, but it also protects our skin from premature aging. One thing to keep in mind is that the ingredients in SPF breakdown over time, so always toss your sunscreen at the end of the summer and buy it new at the beginning of each season. Don’t forget to protect your head, lips and your eyes. These areas are often neglected. And be sure to reapply every couple of hours and after swimming. Choosing the right sunscreen can be difficult and there are surprisingly a lot of things you need to know. Watch for our upcoming blog post on Monday for an in-depth discussion about sunscreen.

Now that you and the kids are lathered up, let’s head outdoors! Summer time brings so many fun outdoor activities. Bike riding, swimming, rollerblading, you name it! But with these activities come risks for injury. It is important that your children always wear a helmet while riding their bike or doing tricks on their scooter. Set a good example and wear your helmet on your next family bike ride. You want to protect your head, too, and this way they don’t feel singled out. Also, get your kids swimming lessons. The sad reality of summer is a lot of children drown because they are left alone near water. Make swim lessons a priority, especially if you have a pool in your yard or vacation on a lake or at a beach. And never leave your child unsupervised by any body of water; it only takes a second for an accident to happen. If you’re going out on a boat make sure your children wear their life jacket the entire time. You can never be too safe.

Being outdoors in the heat can make you work up a sweat. Dehydration is a real concern during scorching summer days. Drink lots of water and eat foods that have high water contents such as cucumbers. Also, be sure to re-balance your electrolytes. Try adding a dash of salt to a slice of watermelon, or slip a bottle of coconut water into your beach bag. Also, stay out of the direct sun during the hottest parts of the day. If you have to be outside in the middle of the afternoon, plan on being around the water. Go to the local pool or set up a sprinkler in the yard, the kids will have a ball. Remember, if you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated!

All of this outdoor activity can wreak havoc on your allergies. Common summertime allergies are pollen, mold and bee stings. First and foremost, you should keep an EpiPen on you at all times, especially if you or a member of your family has severe allergies. Also, keep antihistamines on hand; they will help to calm an allergic reaction. If your symptoms persist, schedule an appointment with your doctor.

Summertime brings fun but it also can bring forward dangerous situations. Keep these points in mind to keep yourself and your family safe all summer long.

For more healthcare tips for you and your family, check out my workbook for dealing with caring for your children as well as your aging parents: Life in Sandwich Generation. Life in the Sandwich Generation is a workbook filled with information, tips and tricks for managing the demands needing to care for your aging parents, as well as taking care of your children. It details how you can involve your children in the process, how to learn more about your parents health and finances, while still making time for yourself and your spouse. You can find it here for only $10!