Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Hydrogen peroxide – a disinfectant and bleaching agent –  is most commonly used in first aid situations  to treat small cuts,  scrapes, and burns. But, some people believe its healing properties extend past these small skin abrasions, and are trying to ingest the liquid to “cleanse” the body or treat illnesses such as cancer. A recent report from the Annals of Emergency Medicine  said that hydrogen peroxide ingestion was being promoted as “super water” and a “natural cure” in some alternative medicine circles that promote “cleansing” the body. Dr. Mary Ann Barnes, an integrative medicine specialist with St. Elizabeth, set…

Looking for a heart-healthy recipe to fill you up on chilly winter nights? This Italian orzo soup will stick to your insides to keep you full all night and – bonus! – it’s also good for your heart. See the recipe below or click here to download a printable version. Ingredients 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 small yellow onion, peeled and diced 1 cup celery, diced 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 1 cup carrots, diced 5 cups low-sodium vegetable or chicken stock 1 (14-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 1/2 cups (about 8 ounces) wheat orzo or pasta 1…

Concussions are at the forefront of almost every conversation surrounding football, soccer and other sports on all levels from little league to the NFL. Many parents, coaches, trainers and professional athletes have expressed concern over how concussions are diagnosed and treated and the time between when an athlete sustains an injury and when he or she gets back on the field or court. Dr. Michael Miller, Medical Director of St. Elizabeth Sports Medicine, recently discussed concussion recovery time with Local 12’s Liz Bonis. Miller says balance tests and standard imaging tests of the brain still leave experts with the problem…

Neither of the teams playing in this Sunday’s game  are area favorites, but in a big game it’s hard not to choose a favorite. Some will be rooting for the underdog, while others want to see Tom Brady ascend to greatness. If the team you’re cheering on loses, it could deeply impact your day the following Monday. How can we deal when negative things happen that are out of our control? Gail Rizzo, Ed. D., LPCC-s, CADC, a child and family counselor with St. Elizabeth, explains that we must practice mindfulness-based practices. “Deep breathing helps us slow ourselves down,” she…

Sometimes, for the perfectionist type at least, it may seem tempting to micro-manage your team to keep an eye on how and what they are doing. However, a study from the University of Iowa revealed workers who are empowered will not only have a higher morale, but will also be less stressed, more satisfied with their jobs, be more loyal to their companies and be more productive. If that’s not a compelling enough reason to quit micro-managing, these findings stretch across industries, companies and work cultures – so empowering your group will work regardless of what it does day-to-day. …

The Super Bowl is coming up fast, and even though you’ve likely been invited to a few parties, you’re not that into football or the teams playing this year. That’s okay! We searched for alternatives to watching the big game this Sunday and devised the eight ideas below. Check them out: Go to the gym:  You may not have any tailgating foods to work off, but going to an empty gym not only gets your workout in for the day but also can help boost your mood and energy. Watch for the commercials and have a commercial fitness challenge:  You…

If you’re a devoted football fan, it’s essential to consider that games can extend beyond 3 hours, leading to prolonged periods of sitting and indulging in snacks. That’s why we came up with five simple – yet fun – things to do to stay up and moving during the game: Fitness challenge:  Huffington Post has multiple fitness challenges that work whether you have a group of young adults, kids, families, fitness buffs, or yogis. If you want a fitness challenge for the commercial breaks, check out this one from Women’s Health Magazine. Keep food in a separate room: This tip…

You’ve tried every diet and enrolled in every fitness class, but you’re still not seeing the results that you want. Maybe it’s time to try a medical weight loss program through St. Elizabeth’s Weight Management Center. That’s what Theresa, a local woman who lost 130 pounds, did. Teresa enrolled in a medically supervised weight loss program. Dr. Troy Schumann, the doctor who worked with Teresa, had his own weight loss journey, and Teresa enjoyed working with someone who understood the day-to-day struggles. Both said there were a lot of steps along the way, and that the most important thing was…

This heart-healthy chicken and rice dish is not only high in protein  (perfect for providing a boost of energy), but it also contains ginger, which has shown promise in fighting certain types of cancers. Inspired by Asian cuisine, this meal is a sweet and satisfying way to keep you full all night long. Get the recipe below or click here for a printable version. Ingredients 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces Salt and pepper Crushed red pepper, optional and to taste Sauce 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce 3…

Picture the following scenario: You grab your grocery list and your keys and head to the store, kids in tow. You wander the aisles grabbing things you need (and plenty you don’t). Your kids want a bag of cookies and you also don’t remember adding those animal crackers to the cart.   It’s been an hour and you are ready to go. You hit the register and, with all of your coupons, you’ve saved enough money to buy the cookies and that tabloid magazine you probably wouldn’t have grabbed had the line not been so long. Sound familiar? We figured…