Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

Free radicals are unstable molecules that are naturally formed when you exercise and when your body converts food into energy. Your body can also encounter free radicals with environmental exposure to cigarette smoke, air pollution, sunlight, certain medications and treatments, and eating an unhealthy diet. Free radicals can cause “oxidative stress,” a process that can trigger cell damage and is believed to play a role in a variety of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and eye diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. The science Antioxidant molecules have been shown to counteract oxidative stress…

If you’re like me, you’ll spend some time on the road or in the air this month. While I love traveling to see family and friends ““ and maybe a quick trip to the Caribbean! ““ luggage always weighs me down. It can be especially difficult when my husband insists there are no circumstances in which checking baggage is appropriate. Whether I’m dragging my wheely bag through the airport or jamming everything into a shoulder bag, my back needs a break. Here are nine tips I use to make sure my luggage doesn’t create back pain before I arrive at…

A member of the ginger family, turmeric is easily identified by its yellow color and often used in Indian food. But, this tasty spice isn’t just used to give your food an extra kick. Turmeric is being actively researched for use in Alzheimer’s prevention and treatment, as well as treating autoimmune, cancer and heart diseases. Here is what we know about turmeric so far: It’s a natural anti-inflammatory It increases the body’s antioxidant capacity, blocks free radicals and stimulates the body’s own antioxidant activity It increases the growth of new brain neurons and fights the degenerative process that occurs in…

Ah, Thanksgiving. The food holiday. But we are, after all, Smart ” Health ” Today. Which makes writing about Thanksgiving kind of challenging. Why let that stop us? Here are 10 tips to a healthy (kind of) Thanksgiving. Get moving. Take a walk in the morning. That way you have exercised. When someone suggests you’ve had enough sweet potatoes, you can say, “Yea, well, I walked 3 miles this morning and burned 1,000 calories, so I can have some more.” It might be an exaggeration, but who’s going to call you out in front of everyone? Control your eating during…

Are you planning to join the masses on the biggest shopping day of the year? We’re here to help you live a better life ““ that includes helping you win Black Friday. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, we have eight tips you can use to conquer Black Friday: 1. Forget wearing “comfortable shoes” “” wear running shoes. Your shoes will be your best friend Friday. They’ll support long-distance treks, endless hours waiting in line, sprints through the stores and hurdles ““ also known as your fellow shoppers. Leave the heels and boots at home ““ or you’ll…

Forget the presents, forget the decorations, forget the snow. For some of us, the holidays are all about food. For people with diabetes, all those treats add up to a hefty challenge as they try to navigate the holiday atmosphere and manage their health. Julie Shapero, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator with the Northern Kentucky Health Department, said there are no forbidden foods – except for regular soda – regardless of the time of year. “It’s all about the portion sizes.” But just because it’s a holiday, that doesn’t mean people with diabetes can stop counting carbs and…

Now that Thanksgiving Day is in the past, you’re probably saying, “What do I do with all of this leftover food?” It’s nice to enjoy Thanksgiving more than one day a year,  but plain turkey and mashed potatoes can get old quickly. We’ve come up with a few ways to get you excited about those leftovers. Ever had chicken and waffles? What about turkey and waffles? Here’s a recipe from Food Network. A comforting dish for the work week ahead: Turkey pot pie. This recipe combines leftover green bean casserole, turkey and any other vegetables you have around the house.Why…

Everyone loves regular mashed potatoes as a Thanksgiving side dish, so why not try mashing your sweet potatoes too. We love how this recipe requires a little juice and zest from an orange and are only 39 calories per serving. Happy Thanksgiving! Recipe courtesy of Chef Chris Crowley at St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

The ending to a great Thanksgiving meal is always the pumpkin pie piled high with whipped cream. This year, impress your guests with something a little different – pumpkin mousse. This silky soft alternative cuts out the crust meaning less calories. Enjoy!

We’ve all been told eating seasonal foods gives us the greatest nutritional punch. But, when you’re asked to name fall foods you may only be able to think of a few common favorites: pumpkin, apples, sweet potatoes. But you can enjoy plenty of other fruits and vegetables this fall. Women’s Health Magazine put together a list of The 18 Best Fall Foods to our attention and paired them with delicious recipes. We had to share our favorites: Apples: Baked Oatmeal with Apples and Pecans Beets: Roasted Beets Salad Brussels Sprouts: Shaved Brussels Sprouts and Radicchio Cabbage: Pork Chops with Sweet…