To keep your brain sharp, eat smart
Brain food is very real, helping to shape your ability to remember simple things (well, allegedly simple things) like where you put your darn keys, as well as fighting serious memory-related disorders. Here are four food tips that may help boost your brain: Sip tea. Whether green or black, this brew is rich in micronutrients called polyphenols. These compounds can travel into the... READ MORE
NIH study to track post-COVID recovery
So far, there have been around 200,000 known coronavirus cases in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia, with more than 6,300 deaths. If you are one of the unlucky people who falls sick, consider helping the National Institutes of Health learn more about the disease. NIH’s Clinical Center is conducting a clinical trial to learn more about COVID-19’s effects on the lungs, heart, ... READ MORE
Mexican rice made with homemade salsa
These recipes are reprinted with permission from Recipes from the President’s Ranch: Food People Like to Eat, by Matthew Wendel, White House chef to President George W. Bush and family, recently published by the White House Historical Association (WHHA). Mexican rice with a twist My twist on Mexican rice is very simple. For a base, I use my Prairie Chapel Ranch roasted ancho chili... READ MORE
Ways to limit eating from stress, boredom
You’ve had a bad day, so you grab a tub of ice cream, move to the couch and dig right in. You don’t feel physically hungry, but eating ice cream is comforting. This is referred to as emotional eating or stress eating. These terms are often used interchangeably, and both refer to turning to food to cope with emotions. This type of eating contrasts with wandering into the kitchen... READ MORE
Pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery
Dear Mayo Clinic: What are the risks of LASIK surgery, and will my vision deteriorate again over time, even after surgery? A: It is not typical for a person’s vision to regress after LASIK, or laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, and complications that result in a loss of vision after LASIK are rare. Although the procedure may lead to some side effects, they are uncommon. A... READ MORE
Silent kidney disease can creep up on you
Dear Savvy Senior, Do kidney problems run in families? My mother died from kidney failure 10 years ago at age 74 but didn’t know she had a kidney problem until it was too late. Just Turned 60 Dear 60, Anyone who has a family history of kidney disease, or who has high blood pressure or diabetes, is at increased risk and needs to have their kidneys tested. According to the... READ MORE
New blood test may diagnose Alzheimer’s
An experimental blood test was highly accurate at distinguishing people with Alzheimer’s disease from those without it in several studies, boosting hopes that there soon may be a simple way to help diagnose this most common form of dementia. Developing such a test has been a long-sought goal, and scientists warn that the new approach still needs more validation and is not yet ready for ... READ MORE
Boomers and seniors no longer majority
OK, boomers: Millennials and their younger siblings and children now make up a majority of the U.S. population. A new analysis by the Brookings Institution shows that 50.7% of U.S. residents are under age 40 as of July 2019. The Brookings’ analysis of population estimates released this summer by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that the combined Millennial, Generation Z and... READ MORE
Your BMI matters more than weight alone
Dear Mayo Clinic: At a recent appointment, my blood pressure and cholesterol were normal, but my doctor mentioned that my BMI is at an unhealthy number (28). Does this mean I need to lose weight even though I have no health problems? A: Although weight is an important measure of health, it’s not the only thing to consider when assessing overall health. Other factors play a role as... READ MORE
Help from healthcare students
In 2009, two college roommates, Sarah LaFave and Liz Bonomo, co-founded a volunteer group called Lori’s Hands. LaFave’s mother, Lori, had passed away from breast cancer while LaFave was in high school, and the nursing major wanted to make a difference within her community at the University of Delaware. From personal experience “I had seen how chronic illness could impact a... READ MORE
