Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

If you’re like us, Memorial Day weekend means  Taste of Cincinnati. From Oreo Cheesecake  to the spinach and Ham Souffle with Mushroom Veloute Sauce (yum!), it’ll be easy to cheat on your diet this weekend. But, you can enjoy the three-day festival without packing on the pounds. Here are three  tips from Betsy Oriolo, registered dietitian with the  St. Elizabeth Weight Management Center, to enjoy a healthier Taste of Cincinnati. 1.  Plan ahead. Use the best bets below and view the restaurant website for possible nutrition or more detailed meal information before you head downtown. 2. Watch out for desserts…

The best way to stay cool in  the hot summer sun? Ice cream, of course! Unfortunately, the cold treat is often filled with calories, fat and sugar. You can cut some of the  fat and the still enjoy a sweet treat with these raspberry lemonade yogurt ice pops. This recipe  combines the refreshing taste of lemonade  with plain yogurt and fresh raspberries. Pro tip: This  recipe contains granulated sugar, but you could try using a natural sweetener, such as Stevia, to make it even healthier.

Your kids are likely picturing all the fun  activities  they’ll do in your backyard this summer, so why shouldn’t you? Plan ahead with a few of these 37 ideas from Buzzfeed.  If you’ve always dreamed of being the coolest parent on the block, now is your chance. And if you haven’t, you’re sure to at least get some smiles and laughs from your own kids.  You can make  the entire list kid-friendly by substituting juice or sports drinks for the suggested beverage in #27. Now excuse us – we’ll be in the sunflower fort.

Just about anything “stress, hormones, caffeine (or the lack of it), allergies, a pulled muscle” can cause a headache. Figuring out the type of headache and, in some cases the pain trigger, can go a long way toward short-circuiting your misery, according to the National Headache Foundation. Headache specialists divide headaches into two main types: primary, benign headaches like migraine or cluster headaches, and secondary headaches in which an underlying culprit an infected tooth, pinched nerve, or, rarely, a tumor ““ is causing the pain. Here are the facts on the four main types of primary benign headaches: Migraine More…

If you are in a group more likely to develop shingles and you spotted a rash, what do you do next? Contact your physician right away. He or she will provide antiviral medications that can shorten the duration and intensity of the shingles if taken early. Before you see your doctor: Keep the rash covered. Do not touch or scratch the rash. Wash your hands often to prevent the spread of the virus. Avoid contact with pregnant women who have never had chicken pox or the shingles vaccine; premature or low birth weight infants; and people with weak immune systems.…

People with Type 2 diabetes are almost always advised to lose weight, but sometimes just dropping pounds won’t help control the disease. Some people need, or choose, an intensive approach and enroll in medical weight management programs. Depending on the patient, the program might rely on a specialized diet, such as a liquid protein diet, or surgery, often in conjunction with a fitness program, classes on lifestyle modification and medication. Is gastric bypass surgery right for me? For people with Type 2 diabetes, one procedure stands out before the pounds even start coming off. Gastric bypass surgery is a…

With summer right around the corner, more folks are getting ready to grease the old bicycle chain, strap on a helmet and go for a ride around town. And with two more weeks in Bike Month, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to ride solo, with your family or with your significant other. Soapbox Media  has a great list of biking activities – from a happy hour in Walnut hills to a hill challenge in Over-the-Rhine. Many of these events recur weekly throughout the summer, so you have plenty of time to meet up with fellow cycling enthusiasts. Don’t own a…

Need a little motivation to get in shape this summer? Consider  registering  for a race happening in Greater Cincinnati  this July. One of these beginner training plans will help you prepare  for an upcoming 5K: 6-week training schedule  from Fitness Magazine 7-week training schedule  from the Mayo Clinic 8-week training schedule  from Runner’s World Picked your training program? Great! Time to register for a race: 1.  City of Edgewood & Tri-State Running Co. 2015 Independence Day 5K What: Join the annual Independence Day Edgewood 5K Where: Race starts and finishes at President’s Park, Edgewood, Kentucky When: Saturday, July 4…

Your child spending hours watching a favorite cartoon could lead to lifetime weight problems. Researchers at the Pediatric Academic Societies found sedentary behavior (like sitting through a marathon of Dora the Explorer) is linked directly to being overweight or obese as an adult. The research builds on several studies that link TV and weight gain across all age groups. One study found kindergartners who watched as little as an hour of television were 50 percent to 73 percent more likely to be obese, compared to their classmates who tuned in to their favorite show less than an hour a day.…

As parents, we try to make good choices for our kids. Unfortunately, many popular snack foods that seem healthy aren’t as nutritious as we may hope. From  reduced-fat peanut butter to cereal bars, we’re sure you’ll be surprised by at least one of the items on the Food Network’s  list. Were you surprised by any of the snacks? Let us know on Facebook!