Tag: Health

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SoFlo GARDENING

What to Plant

Annuals/Bedding Plants: Summer annuals to plant now include celosia, coleus, torenia, and ornamental peppers.

 

Bulbs: Butterfly lily and gladiolus are bulbs that can be planted during the middle of summer.

Herbs: While summer is too hot to start herbs from seeds, many, such as oregano and mint, do well if started from small plants.

Vegetables: Plant tropical vegetables, such as boniato, calabaza, and chayote this month.

Palms: Continue planting palms while the rainy season is in full swing. Support large palms with braces for 6–8 months after planting. Do not drive nails directly into a palm trunk.

What to Do

Pests on Lawns: Determine the cause of any lawn problems before taking action. If an insect is the culprit, treat only the affected area. Rule out disease or sprinkler malfunction.

Fertilizer Bans: Numerous municipalities in south Florida prohibit the application of fertilizer to lawns and/or landscape plants during the summer rainy season (June– September). See if such an ordinance exists in your area.

Vegetable garden: Use summer heat to solarize
the vegetable garden for fall planting. It takes 4–6 weeks to kill weeds, disease, and nematodes, so start now. See Soil Solarization: edis. ifas.ufl.edu/topic_soil_ solarization.

 

Pests on ornamental plants: Inspect the leaves of ornamental plants for small white dots that may indicate lace bugs at work. Spray forcefully with water to help control this pest.

Tropical fruit trees: Check for damage to fruit or leaves and take action to minimize the effect of insects and/or disease on developing fruit or the overall health of the tree.

Source: University of Florida IFAS Extension

 

 

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Rewind: Keeping seniors connected with loved ones during times of isolation

The Alzheimer’s Association has partnered with the State of Florida’s Department of Elder Affairs to keep seniors connected with loved ones during social isolation. Through Project: VITAL (Virtual Inclusion Technology for All), senior-friendly tablets from engagement technology provider iN2L will be distributed to nursing homes and assisted living facilities (ALFs) throughout the state.

“There are more than 580,000 people in Florida living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Approximately two-thirds of the people living in ALFs have some form of dementia,” said Alzheimer’s Association Florida Regional Leader, Angela McAuley. “Project: VITAL has provided the Association the opportunity to extend our reach to not just those living with dementia, but to all seniors in Florida who are vulnerable to the negative effects of social isolation.”

During the pilot phase, the Alzheimer’s Association will work with 150 care communities, 40 of them in South Florida, supplying two tablets per community, as well as virtual training on how to use the equipment and platform. The tablets are preloaded with software programming from iN2L, enabling residents to connect with their loved ones via video chat with a simple tap on the home screen.

The tablet further fosters connection with family by creating individual profiles for every resident, with the added ability for family to add personal photos and videos to those profiles for residents to view whenever they like.

Also included on the tablet is an easily-personalized library of applications that supports cognitive, emotional, social, physical, and spiritual wellness for the ultimate person-centered engagement experience.

“We are excited to be working alongside the Alzheimer’s Association to provide the technology and tools for Project: VITAL.” said Lisa Taylor, iN2L CEO. “We know how important meaningful connection is to older adults’ health and well-being, and during COVID-19, it is absolutely critical.

“Our tablets are a connection care package for senior living residents, equipped with one-touch video chat tools for virtual family visits, as well
as over 1,000 content applications to connect residents to their interests and passions – all designed to keep them healthy, happy, and entertained during these uncertain times and beyond. We are thrilled that more seniors in the state of Florida will benefit from this solution,” she added.

“We’re hoping the use of these customized tablets will facilitate critical connections with the families, especially during these times – but, we want to use them for sustainable models for the future,” said Richard Prudom, Secretary of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs. “We want to ensure the safety of our vulnerable seniors while keeping their loved ones connected.”

The first 50 tablets were shipped on Friday, April 24 with the remaining 100 tablets on May 1.

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Pet Talk: Socially distanced, we told stories on my driveway

One night my wife and I were socially distancing with neighbors on my driveway. People that I have never met, neighbors that have been living on the street for years were coming out of their home quarantines and bringing chairs and coolers to my driveway. The six chairs grew to 20 and we all stayed six feet apart. I learned that more than half of us were in the healthcare profession. The other interesting thing I learned was that everyone owned a dog and most of us recognized each other by their dogs. I went from the golden retriever guy to the veterinarian who lives in the two-story house on the corner. That was fun.

As the evening went on it was like a classic joke: A veterinarian, a physician and a dentist walk into a room. Literally, a dentist and a physician and I spent more than an hour trying to outdo each other with the crazy things we have seen, removed or took off a patient. At least my patients have an excuse why they do some weird stuff but what the physicians or dentist had to do for their patients was mind- blowing.

Then the conversation went to clients and patients that
did not follow the golden rules. The physician was a dermatologist and discussed skin cancer from not using suntan lotion. The dentist talked about severe dental disease from not brushing and flossing and I talked about the emergencies that I saw from not spaying and neutering.

I met a guy years ago who wanted to adopt a dalmatian. At that time, I was the veterinarian in charge of the Dalmatian Rescue League of South Florida. The only requirement to adopt was a home inspection and review of their current pet’s health care. The potential adopter owned two Pekinese dogs, and neither were spayed.

The owner did not have an issue that the female dalmatian that he wanted to adopt was spayed but had no intentions
of spaying his Pekinese. He wasn’t going to breed them but has never spayed or neutered a pet before and didn’t believe in it. I was a younger veterinarian and respected the owner’s opinion but was steadfast that he was not going to adopt this dalmatian. It caused a big problem for the rescue group and

for me. What I didn’t know was that he was a politician. He wasn’t used to not getting his way.

About a week after I told the owner and his kids that they were not going to adopt one of the dalmatians I got a call
on my after hours emergency line. It was from the politician. He was at an emergency hospital in Fort Lauderdale and his dog was being prepped for emergency pyometra surgery. Pyometra is when the uterus fills like a balloon with pus. It is the nightmare scenario that can happen when you don’t spay your female dogs.

He wanted to know if I could do the surgery, not because of my reputation, or that he respected me professionally, but he wanted to know if I could do it cheaper than the estimate he received at the emergency center. I hung up.

Back to quarantine. At the end of the night a female neighbor approached me. She told me my story gave her the courage finally to spay her Labrador. Her last dog died due to sepsis from a ruptured pyometra.

By Dr. Glenn Kalick

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Pandemic Parenting – Making it up as we go along

Think back to the beginning of the year. No one would have predicted that our children would be graduating in our living rooms; that summer camp, family get-togethers and beach days would be so oddly different.

For many, this change to a virtual existence has been difficult. Children thrive from social engagements, which makes this a time of great struggle and stress. Children’s brains develop through play and learning social skills. They learn boundaries and empathy through playing side by side with others, a scenario impossible to re-create through a video chat! So how do we fill the void for our children while maintaining social distancing?

Growing up, I had our summer ritual down pat. Days spent with family and friends, summer camp, vacation on Sanibel, school clothes shopping. It had a rhythm and regularity. This is the time to revisit your summer rituals and revamp them for COVID-19. Rituals are important for family cohesion. Resurrecting a custom from your childhood might be the answer. Unearth photo albums from your childhood and your children’s. Share stories and bring the past alive. Create a new rhythm for summer with family dinners, game time, and movie nights to help children connect with the family.

When we ask children to make a choice, they feel more empowered and in control. That’s a good thing. If we give kids choices, they have a set list of options to choose from. What they don’t have is an endless list of options you don’t want them choosing. “Are we going to the beach at 9 a.m. to beat the crowds, or are we playing in the sprinklers today?” Did you notice two choices with limits? If your child counter offers with a Disney trip, ice cream for breakfast or some other extravagance, it’s fine to pass. Just because your child wants something, it’s OK not to give it to them. Even when life is weird or stressful!

Just remember – you’re a great parent doing the best you can during a difficult time. You got this!

 

By Maria Berger

Maria Berger is a licensed mental health counselor and a registered art and play therapist. Her practice, Berger Counseling Services, is located in Parkland. Maria has been serving children, teens and families for over twenty years.

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Well-balanced diet promotes healthy immune system

There is a strong correlation between a healthy immune system and a nutritionally well-balanced diet. Every day we are exposed to living microorganisms that may cause an infection
in our body. These living microorganisms are called pathogens
or antigens. These can be bacteria, viruses, parasites, or other microbes. Our immune system protects us against these harmful pathogens with systemic pathways and organs throughout our body that create barriers to fight and prevent the spread of the harmful microbe.

There are two parts to our immune system. The innate part uses barriers to stop the threat of the pathogen. This system uses our skin to keep the majority of the microbes from entering our body; mucus is used to trap microbes; the stomach destroys the pathogens with acid; and sweat and
tears reinforce the skin barrier by creating additional antibacterial coverage on the skin surface. The acquired part utilizes the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and bone marrow to produce antibodies that attack and destroy antigens.

When antigens enter the body, these substances trigger
an immune response where antibodies and white blood cells
are created to fight the harmful microbe. Once an antigen has entered the body and antibodies have been created to fight it, the innate system has the ability to ‘recognize’ the antigen if it enters the body again, thus being able to fight it even better when it is reintroduced. The acquired part also utilizes inflammation as an effective immune response. Inflammation causes swelling, fluid accumulation, and pain. White blood cells are produced and rush to the area of the harmful microbe surrounding it in the swollen area and flushing it out with the excess fluid. All of these parts work in tandem to fight off unwanted, harmful microbes.

What can depress our immune systems includes any or all of the following: the process of aging where parts of the system may not work as effectively or efficiently as they should; disregarding environmental toxins can impair the system; obesity or excess weight strains the immune system; malnutrition by not providing the necessary nutrients that support the system’s response, and chronic diseases, chronic stress, and lack of sleep can all put a strain on the system.

Anyone who is poorly nourished has an increased risk for infection. Additionally, the severely or chronically ill suffer from malnutrition due to a depletion of macro and micronutrients due to the disease state. During this COVID-19 pandemic, those that are at higher risk include the elderly and those with chronic conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, cardiac disease, and obesity.

A healthy diet includes fruits, vegetables, grains, meats/beans, dairy, and fats. The fresher, the better. A diet that is diverse provides all of the macro (protein, fat, and carbohydrates) and micro (vitamins and minerals) nutrients that are needed to support a healthy immune system. The nutrients in our diet support immune cell growth and antibody production, both which are used to fight an infection.

If you feel you are nutritionally compromised, it may be beneficial for you to take a multivitamin supplement that provides the recommended dietary allowance for your age. This will be on the label. The COVID-19 virus key micronutrients for immune support include Zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin D. Zinc has been shown to reduce the rate of respiratory infections and reduce flu symptoms. It plays a critical role in skin healing and in most of our enzymes. Zinc is found naturally in most of our protein sources. Vitamin C is another key agent that is known for its role as an antioxidant, in cell repair by reducing tissue damage, and in immunological response. Fruits are a plentiful source. Vitamin D has been shown to reduce the chance of developing acute respiratory tract infections. Make sure the MVI you choose contains these three nutrients.

To maintain a healthy immune system, eat a well-balanced diet, do not smoke, no alcohol or consume in moderation, exercise regularly, get eight hours of sleep each night, and manage your stress level.

DIETITIAN’S VIEW

By Nancy M. Ouhib, MBA, RDN, LDN

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Sourdough Passion

 

Microbes that we cannot see live around us. One newcomer, COVID-19, has caused all of us to huddle in our homes. This allowed me to reconnect with my sourdough starter, which consists of a combination of yeast and probiotic bacteria.

I love bread. In the world where you are often told to go light on carbs, what was once my go-to food item has become an indulgence. When I was researching healthy bread, to justify eating more of it, I found sourdough.

Only in the past hundred years has fast rising yeast and store bought bread became a norm in our lives. For thousands of years before that, making bread was a daily activity, where master artisan bread makers used what we now call the sourdough process to make bread.

The rapid rise yeast, which is used for most of the bread we eat, allowed us to make great looking bread quickly. The sourdough starter, a living culture of many microbes, requires patience to work with, and doesn’t often give as consistent a result as fast rising yeast.

A homemade sourdough bread, with its tangy flavor, along with the satisfaction of seeing it rise (when you are successful), is very gratifying. It’s also one of the healthiest bread choices you can have.

For many years, I had been nursing a sourdough starter, supposedly from a San Francisco bakery. Oftentimes, when life got busy, I neglected it in my fridge, as you only need to feed it once a week in the chilly climate. But when you let it thrive on your countertop, it comes alive with a ferocious appetite, requiring usually twice a day feedings.

During the shutdown, when all the local fine establishments were closed, I reconnected with my love for making sourdough bread, like many in the country, to satisfy my taste buds.

Making sourdough bread is simple. Feed your starter to keep it active and happy. Combine it with your dough in the evening, and an overnight rise will allow you to make a fresh loaf in the morning.

My starter loves the whole wheat flour I source from the prairies of Montana and the Dakotas. Within hours of feeding, large bubbles are created, like magic. It’s these air bubbles that will give your dough the bulk, and when healthy can double or triple your original dough size.

The special flavor that you don’t find in non- sourdough bread, comes from the bacteria that lives in the starter, symbiotic with the yeast. These organisms convert the
simple sugars and carbs in your flour into gut-friendly prebiotics, and lowers the glycemic index of the resulting bread.

Quick advice on sourdough starter

It takes time and luck to create your own reliable sourdough starter. After trying unsuccessfully several times, I found that a starter sourced from a bakery is best. You can usually request it from your local baker, or order them online.

Once you have your starter, you need to maintain it. You will need to regularly discard 1⁄2 of your starter, then add equal amounts of flour and filtered water by weight to replenish. This is best done with a digital scale and a mason jar. Filtered water is required to remove the chlorine in tap water, which inhibits the yeast and probiotics in the starter.

This process needs to be done every 12 hours if you are keeping your starter at room temperature. If you are refrigerating your starter, every 7 days is enough to keep your starter fed and happy.

Happy fermenting.
By Curiously Hungry
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Stay Healthy Overseas – Remember These Tips to Ensure You Are Well Prepared For Happy And Healthy Travels

Stay Healthy Overseas

At least 4-6 weeks before traveling, especially somewhere exotic, it is important stay healthy overseas by visiting a travel medicine specialist or a doctor familiar with travel medicine. While websites such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention can provide basic information relevant to your travel location, it is important that you consult a specialist. These specialists will be able to make more specific recommendations regarding vaccination and/or medications based on factors such as: your destinations, the length of your trip, your age, medical history, and any activities you may have planned. When looking for a travel medicine provider, you can first consult your primary care physician who will be able to refer you to a proper specialist. There are also private clinics that specialize in pre-travel advice and preparation, which can be found through the International Society of Travel Medicine or American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

When you begin packing, some important self-care items to include would be SPF-appropriate sunscreen, insect repellent, small first aid kit, pain/fever reliever, feminine hygiene products, and hand sanitizer. While many of these items may be available during your travels, they may not be the formulation you are accustomed to and are often very expensive.

 Healthy Travels

With regard to medications it is important to bring all of your prescription and over-the counter medications in their original bottle with enough supply for the duration of the trip plus a few extra days should any issues arise. It is also important to pack all medications in your carry-on baggage.Call your health insurance company before traveling to check what extent your policy covers your health needs in a different state or abroad. Make sure to include copies of your health insurance card in your travel documents. Depending on your standard health insurance coverage, you may want to consider purchasing additional travel health insurance. The price of the premium will vary by trip but can be very reasonable for the peace of mind it provides.

Two of the most important steps you can take to stay healthy overseas and prevent illness is to stay hydrated and wash your hands. However, if you or someone you are traveling with unfortunately becomes ill while traveling, it is important to seek help as soon as possible. If you are on a group trip or a cruise, you can alert the group leader or cruise health provider to the situation. If you are traveling on your own, you can first contact the U.S. embassy or consulate, which will be able to refer you to appropriate local doctors and medical facilities. Detailed information on doctors abroad can be found in The Official ABMS Directory of Board Certified Medical Specialists, published for the American Board of Medical Specialties, or the International Society of Travel Medicine website. It is also helpful to contact your health insurance company to alert them of your situation, to expedite coverage, and they may be able to provide additional resources. Maintain copies of all medical records and bills you receive during your medical care, and be sure to follow up with your primary care physician when you return home.

By spending the extra time to prepare, you will be able to fully enjoy your travel adventures knowing you are ready not only to have an unforgettable time but also to properly address your health needs should they arise.
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