Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

A new health supplement is getting a lot of attention – and has us wondering just how much it actually helps. If you have a friend talking about how great activated charcoal can be, here are a two important questions to ask. How does  activated charcoal work?   Bottom line: you won’t experience any real harm by taking the supplement. At worst, you may have mild gastrointestinal tract issues. While the supplement isn’t considered harmful, it isn’t helpful  either. Researchers found no evidence charcoal  helps manage weight or cholesterol. What about detoxing? Most  activated charcoal supplement users claim it can…

If you’re out and about in Downtown Cincinnati this weekend, look for our health quiz stretching across the Purple People Bridge. You’ll find  fun and informative health facts and questions all around the bridge – as well as a few other activities you can try. Since you’re one of our loyal subscribers, we want to help you look smart in front of your friends! Here are the questions you see on the bridge: Question: Approximately how many calories does the average adult burn in an hour of dancing? Answer: C. 350-500 For more ideas to burn a quick 100 calories,…

In April,  Danielle and Adam Busby of Houston, Texas became the proud parents  to five baby girls. The babies, who were the first all-girl quintuplets born since 1969, have been coming home one or two at a time for about a month, but today, number five will finally be at home with her sisters. Parker Kate was the first to arrive home on June 5th, followed by Hazel Grace on June 9th, and both Olivia Marie and Riley Paige on June 23rd. Ava Lane’s arrival will mean that all of the “princesses” will finally be under one roof, the family…

When you scan bottles of bug spray on your grocery store shelves, you’ll probably see four letters stand out on a number of bottles – DEET. Before you grab the spray to keep crawly creatures off your loved ones, let’s talk about what could be in this product. What is DEET? DEET loosely stands for  diethyltoluamide and is an oily liquid used to repel insects. Many people believe it’s harmful,  thinking it can get into their blood stream  and affect  the body’s cells. This is not the case, and in fact, it doesn’t even kill mosquitoes – just repels them.…

You’re sitting at your dentist appointment, and the dental hygienist asks that pesky question you’ve been dreading, “Have you been flossing every day?” If you’re like us, you answer with something  along the lines of  “Of course! Well, maybe not quite every day…” Why is flossing such a big chore? We know flossing is good for us, like taking a multivitamin or going for a run. So, why do we find it so tedious? One of the biggest factors, according to  licensed clinical psychologist Alicia Clark, PsyD, is the lack of clear-cut, immediate results. It annoys us to complete a…

Runners may be lowering their risk of dying from Alzheimer’s every time they hit the pavement. Researchers in California found that running more than 15 miles a week, as well as other heart-healthy habits, could reduce the risk of dying from Alzheimer’s disease. For the study, researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif., looked at more than 153,000 men and women enrolled in the National Runners’ and Walkers’ Health Studies, which began in the 1990s. Researchers followed the participants for an average of 12 years, and found participants who ran more than 15.3 miles a week had a…

Here’s a fun tip for eating in the workplace: Don’t slack on the snacks. Just like in kindergarten, snacking during the day isn’t a bad thing, when done in moderation. In fact, it can help you avoid pigging out when you get home. Joanna Dietrich, a wellness specialist and registered dietician who works at St. Elizabeth Wellness Solutions, says responsible snacking is good for several reasons. It can help you keep your mental edge and energy levels, especially during the afternoon. And, it can keep you from getting that irritable mid-afternoon “hangry” feeling. How to snack smarter in the…

People with diabetes have to learn new ways to eat ““ counting calories and carbs, controlling portions and choosing foods that are high in good stuff and low in bad stuff like fat, sugar and salt. But eating isn’t always about being hungry; sometimes, it’s about being sad or angry or stressed and using food to manage your mood. The Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston has this advice to help control emotional eating: Make a list of favorite activities (besides eating) like hiking, reading or gardening, and keep it handy. When the urge to gorge strikes and you’re not actually…

We’re halfway through 2015, but we are already noticing a trend in what parents want to name their babies. And it seems some more traditional names are becoming popular again. In the Top 100 for girls, you’ll find favorites like Judith, Betty, Ruth and Lucille. And for boys, we spotted Calvin, Adam and Ellis. You can find the full list at the Huffington Post. Gender-neutral names also seem to be popular this year. According to BabyCenter.com, names like  Amari, Karter, Phoenix, Quinn and Reese are topping the list for both boys and girls. Did you or someone you know pick…

If you’re preparing to welcome a new bundle of joy, you’re probably painting the nursery, reading all the parenting books you can find and making sure your home is ready for your baby’s arrival. But what about after the baby comes? For those unsure what to do during a long maternity – or paternity – leave Cincinnati Refined  has a few suggestions: Hold your baby (read: Put everything else on hold) Recover – mentally and physically Get out of the house with your baby Get out of the house without your baby Ignore  the advice (even though everyone loves to…