Author: St. Elizabeth Healthcare

My first year of college, I recall going on an egg diet to avoid the “freshman fifteen” ““ the dreaded weight gain experienced by many college students. My roommate, one year older and years wiser than me, invited me to join her in this seven-day, “high energy, guaranteed weight loss” regime. Living in a dorm 30 plus years ago, I had to go to an upper classman’s apartment and boil dozens of eggs for use and safe storage during the next seven days. I won’t elaborate on the outcome other than to say, I lost weight because I couldn’t gag…

While it’s important to eat your daily allotment of vegetables, fruits and grains, every now and then it’s okay to indulge. On this Wednesday “hump day,” we’re sharing an interesting article from NPR about the science behind baking your ideal chocolate chip cookie. If you’re going to cheat on your diet ““ you should cheat with a tasty cookie! Complete with tempting photos, the article outlines how to make your cookies crispy with a soft center, thick, cakey or even butterscotch flavored. We can’t wait to try the tip of adding two more cups of flour for the “ooey-gooey” cookie.…

Do you drink soda regularly? Or do you indulge when you have a craving? I know I’ve let my root beer cravings take over quite a few times without thinking about the effects on my body. Nearly all soft drinks contain a sweetener called fructose. Fructose metabolizes primarily in the liver leaving fatty acids that can contribute to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Even moderate amounts of fructose can lead to “dangerous gyrations in blood sugar levels, escalating insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, added fat around the middle, obesity, poor cholesterol profiles and other metabolic disruptions,” according to a  New York…

An international team of researchers recently found that people with very low levels of vitamin D ““ sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin” ““ were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The study, released in August, did not show a cause and effect relationship between vitamin D and Alzheimer’s, but is the latest in a growing body of research showing vitamin D plays an important role in brain health and memory. The researchers and experts from the Alzheimer’s Association stressed that more research is needed to determine if vitamin D might be useful…

Medications do a world of good when you need them. But unused medications left gathering dust in the medicine cabinet or just flushed down a toilet can be unintentionally dangerous. Safe disposal of prescription drugs, especially painkillers, is a hot topic these days. Unused medications pose a threat to small children who might take them thinking they’re candy or something harmless. They also might be too tempting to teens looking to experiment, cautions the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And they’re a target for thieves looking for quick cash or a quick fix. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sponsors National…

If you think it’s impossible to lose weight and have fun, this woman’s story about how one dance class changed her life will have you thinking differently. We read this inspiring story on CNN Health and had to share it. In March 2013, Angela weighed 350 pounds. She always loved music and dance so when her friend invited her to a dance class she wanted to go, but was reluctant because of the way she felt about herself. She went to the class and enjoyed it. After one class, there was no turning back. Seven months of attending dance twice…

Facts show that men don’t visit the doctor as often as women, even though men are more prone to serious illnesses. Men are 1.5 times more likely than women to die from Heart disease Cancer Lung disease Change the statistics with the following simple steps Establish a relationship with a healthcare provider ““ be proactive and set the appointment when you aren’t sick. Get the screenings (screenings are tests that look for diseases before you have symptoms.   Blood pressure checks and tests for high blood cholesterol are examples of screenings) and immunizations you need at the times recommended by…

Most of us could stand to drop a few pounds. But for people with Type 2 diabetes, weight loss is especially critical. Those extra pounds make it more difficult to control blood glucose levels, which, in turn, can lead to complications down the road. Fad diets take weight off fast, but the weight loss doesn’t usually last, and yo-yo dieting makes managing blood sugar almost impossible, according to the American Diabetes Association. Slow, steady weight loss – anywhere from half a pound to two pounds a week – is the key, according to the ADA. For most people, that means…

Chicken is my go-to protein for dinner if I don’t have anything else planned. It’s a staple for households across the country because it’s so lean and versatile. But, plain old chicken breast can get well, old. BuzzFeed offers 23 delicious ways to cook boneless chicken breast, and we’re drooling over all of them. They also look relatively healthy, which is an added bonus. Here are just a few that we’re going to try sooner rather than later: Hummus-crusted chicken: Light for when you’re eating late Slow cooker salsa verde chicken: Great for taco night Chicken with five-ingredient teriyaki sauce:…

Being connected 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It can be draining, lead to inefficiency and affect your sleep when you use your device right before bed. According to CNN Health, your favorite electronic device engages your brain so much “that it makes it much harder to fall asleep.” “Simply reading an email or text in the middle of night can take your brain from 0-60 very quickly.” It’s hard to then slow it down. Here are a few tips to get a better night’s sleep: Unplug…