Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Do you need something new to do this spring and summer? My significant other and I are newcomers to the city and are challenging ourselves to get out and explore Greater Cincinnati by going on a new hike every month. I’ll share our experiences in a series of posts called, Hiking the Tri-State. First up was Mt. Airy Forest. A little muddy, but a great choice We are both relatively inexperienced hikers, although he has been a few times, and being in good shape myself, I thought we’d be okay starting with a “moderate hike.” The hike is estimated as…

If the Honor Run Half is your first half marathon, you may be concerned about getting all the way through mile 13. We’re here to help with a few tips for  getting across the finish line. Physical therapist Stacey McConnell of  St. Elizabeth Sports Medicine  explains what you need to know for the first 13 miles: If you missed registration for the half marathon (it is now closed), you can still come out to support the runners and Honor Flight Tri-State. The nonprofit helps send local veterans, who have served our nation in World War II, Korea, and…

We all have bad days. No matter how positive our outlook, sometimes we just feel a little blue. It seems the best answer to fixing those bad days could be already be in your home! Greatist found 11 ways your four-legged friend will actually improve your life, all backed by real science. In addition to helping you out mentally, it turns out having a dog around can lower your blood pressure and boost your immune system. And our personal favorite ““ dogs even ease workday pressure and stress. Considering adoption? For those of you who already have a dog in…

Vegetables are an important part of healthy eating, but it can be difficult to keep them fresh between trips to the store. Keep the wilted produce off your plate with these simple tips from Karah Stanley, registered dietitian at St. Elizabeth Weight Management Center.

New moms who purchase breast milk online may not be getting exactly what they ordered. A team of researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, recently discovered breast milk samples ordered from popular websites were contaminated with cow’s milk. What’s so bad about cow’s milk? Simply put, infants can’t digest it easily. Cow’s milk lacks key nutrients found in human breast milk and formula, and some infants may even have a milk intolerance. This combination can be dangerous for a young, premature baby. In addition to finding cow’s milk in about 10 percent of the samples collected, other studies…

Could blueberries prevent Alzheimer’s disease? They’re one of the foods specified in a new study outlining a diet that seems to reduce the devastating disease. The MIND Diet, developed by nutritional epidemiologists at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, reduced the risk of Alzheimer’s by as much as 53 percent in adults who followed the plan rigorously and about 35 percent in those who followed it moderately well, according to a study published   March 19 in  Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. Mediterranean dieters, meet DASH dieters The diet, developed by nutritionist Martha Clare Morris, PhD,…

It’s no secret that a good night’s sleep is essential to living a healthy life, but it’s not always easy to get in those suggested eight hours. If you’re a part of the 60 percent of Americans who just can’t get to sleep, try one of these nine tips to fall asleep. The list includes ideas you probably haven’t tried, including doing a headstand or eating almond butter. I’m always in for trying advice when includes eating almond butter! Do you have a unique tip for falling asleep faster? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter.

It’s easy to ignore our legs. They’ve been hidden under tights, pants, jeans and yoga pants for the past five months, but it’s about time for them to re-emerge in springy skirts or shorts. Even if you’ve ignored your legs all winter, you still have time to get ready for warmer weather. Here are a  few good tips  to keep your legs looking good. Moisturizing after the shower and taking a walk  during your lunch break are two easy ways to start caring for your legs. In addition to these tips, we suggest starting exercises to tone your legs. Check…

No one wants to think about it: An accident or other health catastrophe leaves you or a loved one incapacitated, and someone has to make a life or death decision. It’s natural to want to put that conversation – do you or don’t you want life support in the event of the unthinkable? – off as long as possible, says Brian Jones, director of hospice and palliative care for St. Elizabeth Healthcare. But no one knows just how long “as long as possible is,” he points out.  “It’s important right now.” How to start the conversation PrimeWise, a service…

I can only hope to make it to 104 years old someday, and have as much energy and wit as the impressive woman in this video interview from CNN. Elizabeth Sullivan said  she’s never been a hospital patient except for having her tonsils removed and giving birth. She also doesn’t take any medication. Her secret –  she’s been drinking three cans of Dr. Pepper a day for 50 or 60 years. Sullivan said she  thinks her body may need the sugar. We don’t know what the rest of her  diet looks like, and she may need the extra calories as…